Next up... Elizabeth Delaney
Thank you to everyone for reading last week's newsletter. Enjoy our next conversation with Elizabeth Delaney!
What year did you graduate from Sewanee?
1996
Did you have any internships during your time at Sewanee? If so, what were they?
I had three, actually! I spent the spring semester of my junior year in New York, where I took classes and had an internship at a Madison Avenue gallery. That summer, I had another internship at Dixon Gallery & Gardens in Memphis, and then after graduation, I returned to New York and had an internship at MoMA. They were three very different places that gave me valuable knowledge about all facets of the art world. Also, I got to spend quality time with some of the most amazing pieces of art in existence.
What made you decide to major in Art History?
There was nothing practical or perfunctory about it—art just spoke to me. A trip to the Art Institute of Chicago when I was in the ninth grade ignited the fuse. I remember standing in front of huge canvases by Manet and Seurat and feeling steeped in genuine awe. From that moment on, I loved learning about art: who made it, why they made it, when they made it, and how the various styles and movements both shaped and reflected history and culture. I especially liked sharing space with tangible bits of history that continue to speak through time.
What was your favorite art history course you took at Sewanee?
I don’t know that there was one favorite, but I really enjoyed the survey class I took with Professor Vroom as well as Renaissance Art with Dr. Clark, American Art with Dr. Brennecke, and Senior Seminar with Dr. Siewert.
Where did you go after graduating? What’s your story postgrad?
After graduating from Sewanee, I got a master’s degree in art history from the University of Memphis (where I also met my husband, who was working on his MFA). In 2000, we moved to Fort Worth, where I worked at a contemporary art museum for several years as the curator of education. After that, I pivoted a little and took a grant writing position at the Van Cliburn Foundation and eventually became the director of publications. During that time, I decided to combine my love of art with my love of words and started writing exhibition reviews and press releases. In 2009, after our daughter was born, I embarked on a freelance career in arts writing and editing. We moved to Charlotte in 2013, and because of my freelance setup, I’ve been able to retain existing professional connections while also having the opportunity to grow the stable of art and artists I write about.
Today, my arts writing portfolio consists of essays, feature profiles, exhibition previews and reviews, press releases, blog posts, biographies, and artist statements. I’ve had pieces published in Hi-Fructose, Art Papers, Art Lies, Southwest Art, and at Burnaway. A few years ago, I was honored to have an essay published in MOZAIK Philanthropy’s inaugural e-zine as part of the Future Art Writers Awards.
If you had to give one piece of advice to your college self, what would it be?
Appreciate the chance to have nothing else to do but learn. Speak up, make yourself known, and engage, absorb, and participate.
Thank you so much Elizabeth for taking the time to tell us about your post-graduate path. Be on the lookout next week for another alumni conversation!