Talks

Talks provides direct access to the top curators and ideas driving contemporary art today, through a year-long series of conversations presented by Locust Projects. 

During intimate conversations, the arts leaders featured in each season of Talks will talk about their curatorial vision and practice, the art and artists that have shaped their careers, and how they support the work of artists whether in museums or non-traditional spaces. Each will also visit the studios of local artists, providing feedback and visibility that can build a bridge between artists working in Miami and the international cultural community. From 2018 to 2023, Talks was coproduced with Oolite Arts.

Locust Talks was originally founded by Locust Projects as a curatorial speaker series with studio visits for local artists presented three times per year. From 2013-2017, Locust Talks featured:

• Fairfax Dorn, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX 
• Peter Eleey, Curator, MOMA PS1, Long Island City, NY
• Lauri Firstenberg, Director and Chief Curator of LAXART
• Louis Grachos, Ernest and Sarah Butler Executive Director, The Contemporary Austin, TX
• Jens Hoffmann, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Public Programs, The Jewish Museum, NY
• Tina Kukielski, Co-Curator of the 2013 Carnegie International and Curator of the Hillman Photography Initiative, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
• Anne Pasternak, President and Artistic Director, Creative Time, New York, NY
• Jenelle Porter, Mannion Family Senior Curator, ICA Boston
• Franklin Sirmans, Terri and Michael Smooke Department Head and Curator of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Massimiliano Gioni, Artistic Director, New Museum, NY
• Michael Darling, James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
• Mary Ceruti, Executive Director and Chief Curator, SculptureCenter, NY
• Nancy Spector, Deputy Director, Brookly Museum of Art, NY
• Ali Subotnik, Adjunct Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles