Laura Phipps, a former associate curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art, has been appointed as the new director of the Gochman Family Collection (GFC). This announcement coincides with the organization’s plans to establish a permanent exhibition space in the Hudson River Valley this fall, providing a dedicated home for its impressive array of contemporary Indigenous art.
Established in 2021 by philanthropist Becky Gochman and former gallerist Zach Feuer, the GFC serves as a private lending collection that focuses on showcasing living Indigenous artists such as Cara Romero, Marilou Schultz, Ishi Glinsky, and Raven Halfmoon through acquisitions and exhibition loans without fees. The collection, which consists of approximately 750 works, has been featured in over 100 exhibitions worldwide, with 260 pieces on display at any given time at the Gochman family’s residence on the Upper East Side.
The GFC’s upcoming exhibition space in Katonah, Westchester County, will provide a new platform for the collection to be more accessible to the public. Laura Phipps expressed her excitement about the opportunity to present the collection in a more public-facing manner, allowing visitors to engage with the artwork at their convenience. The location in Katonah offers a blank canvas for showcasing large-scale works and creating unique connections between the artists and their audience.
With a background of 16 years at the Whitney Museum, Phipps is eager to navigate the challenges of curating exhibitions and storytelling in a space that is still in development. She emphasized the importance of flexibility in responding to the needs of the local community and supporting the artists in the collection. The GFC’s commitment to Indigenous futurity aligns with the mission of the Forge Project, a Native-led arts nonprofit co-founded by Gochman and Feuer, emphasizing the importance of sharing and supporting Indigenous artwork.
Phipps’ expertise in curating contemporary Native art, as demonstrated by her work on Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s retrospective, “Memory Map,” positions her as a valuable asset to the GFC. Her collaborative approach and artist-centric practice align with the collection’s vision of creating a responsive and dynamic ecosystem. Rachel Martin, the GFC Creative Director and Curator, praised Phipps for her understanding of the significance of contemporary Native art in American art history.
In conclusion, Laura Phipps’ appointment as the director of the Gochman Family Collection heralds an exciting new chapter for the organization as it prepares to unveil its permanent exhibition space in Katonah. With a focus on showcasing Indigenous artists and fostering community engagement, the GFC is poised to become a vital hub for contemporary Indigenous art in the Hudson River Valley.
