Join SVMoA for an in-person conversation with Ali Gass and Matthew Thompson about the evolving landscape of contemporary art spaces. The discussion will explore how artists and curators are reimagining what a museum, or an art space, can be, highlighting approaches that push boundaries, challenge expectations, and open new possibilities for creativity and engagement.
Alison “Ali” Gass is a curator and museum director known for leading innovative, contemporary art institutions and redefining how contemporary art is presented and experienced, prioritizing artist driven projects, site responsive exhibitions, and public engagement beyond conventional gallery walls. She is the founding director and chief curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF), a non collecting contemporary art museum that opened in 2022 and now operates with a dynamic, citywide and nomadic model of exhibitions and public art engagement. She has also served as the director of the Institute of Contemporary Art San José, Smart Museum of Art, and chief curator of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.
Matthew Thompson is a curator and senior cultural advisor working at the intersection of contemporary art, landscape, and the built environment. He is known for creating immersive, site-responsive experiences that blend contemporary art with landscape and environment. With experience at institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Aspen Art Museum, Matthew has worked with internationally recognized artists to develop projects that inspire public engagement and connection, specializing in transforming spaces into dynamic cultural experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. As artistic director in the formation of the Powder Art Foundation, he curated the expansive art program at Utah’s Powder Mountain, which features outdoor installations by internationally known artists including Nancy Holt, Nobuo Sekine, and Susan Philipsz, along with forthcoming projects by Nikita Gale, Paul McCarthy, and James Turrell, among many others.
The next Museum Passport talk will take place on Tuesday, August 11 and will feature Sarah Newman, Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum speaking about Nick Cave: Mammoth.
This conversation is presented as part of SVMoA's series Museum Passport, talks on artists featured in major museum exhibitions around the United States. Check our website for details about upcoming Museum Passport talks and to register.
