Emilia Layden will serve as acting director of the Haggerty of Museum of Art following the departure of Susan Longhenry. Layden, who joined the museum in 2012, will begin in the role starting Aug. 12.
Longhenry, who has been at Marquette for the past eight years, has taken a position as director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Sheldon Museum of Art. Highlights of her tenure include innovative, impactful exhibitions such as “Tomás Saraceno: Entangled Air” (spring 2023) and “J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript,” (fall 2022) developed in partnership with Raynor Memorial Libraries.
During her time, the Haggerty was one of only twelve institutions in the country — and the only arts organization — to participate in the first round of the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) Community Catalyst grant program. As described in the Museum’s blog and Journey Map, the Haggerty partnered with United Community Center, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers and local artists on a public art project near Pulaski Park exploring how fresh water affects our individual and collective lives.
Layden joined the Haggerty Museum of Art 11 years ago as associate curator and presently serves as the associate director for curatorial affairs. During her tenure at the Haggerty, Layden has led the development of the museum’s collection and its exhibitions program. Layden’s area of specialization is contemporary art, and she has curated a variety of group and solo exhibitions at the Haggerty.
Her most recent exhibitions include “Tomás Saraceno: Entangled Air” (2023), “María Magdalena Campos Pons: Sea and Self ” (2021); “Toward the Texture of Knowing” (2020); “Sable Elyse Smith: Ordinary Violence” (2019); and “Jeffrey Gibson: Look How Far We’ve Come” (2017). Additionally, she annually curates the Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowship For Individual Artists exhibition. She currently serves on the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Board of Directors of Milwaukee Film.
