Marianne McGrath is an independent art curator. After successful years working within museums, curating exhibits and presenting art and education programs, Marianne founded MKM Art Consulting, which offers curatorial projects to art institutions, galleries and artists. Through her work, Marianne contributes to and advances the contemporary art world, utilizing her range of experience, education and knowledge of fine art. Marianne’s passion for art and art education motivates her work as a curator in introducing people to art and bringing art to the community.
Marianne is known and respected for collaborating professionally with artists, collectors, galleries and museums in the Bay Area art community and beyond. Her broad expertise includes leadership over a full range of curatorial duties including research, exhibition development and production, interpretation, documentation, art acquisition and collections. Marianne holds a BA degree in Art, an MA degree in Art History and her professional affiliations include ArtTable, College Art Association and the Women’s Caucus for Art.
Follow Marianne on Instagram @theartistcollector
Resume, complete exhibition history and references available upon request.
Selected Curatorial Projects
GROW
Palo Alto Art Center, September 20, 2024 – December 15, 2024
In Feast or Famine
Palo Alto Art Center, January 20, 2024 – April 7, 2024
Common Thread
Santa Clara University, November 13, 2023 – February 2, 2024
The Hiking Club
New Museum Los Gatos, October 13, 2023 – February 4, 2023
Terra Firma
NUMU, October 21, 2022 – March 19, 2023
To Hear and Be Heard
Santa Clara University, October 16, 2020 – January 22, 2021
31 Women
Whitney Modern Gallery, March 1, 2020 – April 30, 2020
Perception of Place
Juror
California Society of Printmakers, Pacific Grove Art Center
September 6, 2019 – October 24, 2019
In the Artist’s Studio
NUMU, January 18, 2018 – October 21, 2018
RISE: Empower, Change and Action
Juror/Co-curator
Whitney Modern Art Gallery, July 18 – September 9, 2018
Thinking Outside the Frame and NUMU Printmaking Studio
NUMU, May 18, 2018 – September 30, 2018
Waterlines
NUMU, Oct. 6, 2017 – March 18, 2018
Arts Council Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour Juror 2017; 2018
Power of the Page
NUMU, May 4, 2017 – September 17, 2017
Abstracts From Life: Bay Area Figurative Past and Present
NUMU, March 24, 2017 – September 10, 2017
A Call to Collect
NUMU, January 26, 2017 – June 8, 2017
Making Contact: SETI Artists in Residence
NUMU, October 28, 2016 – March 5, 2017
The Painter’s Journey: On the Road to Los Gatos
NUMU, September 22, 2016 – January 2017
In the Heart of the Wild: Anne Brigman and Her Circle
NUMU, July 14, 2016 – January 8, 2017
Et in Arcadia Ego
NUMU, June 2, 2016 – October 2, 2016
More Than Your Selfie
NUMU, January 21, 2016 – May 15, 2016
Marc D’Estout: Open Investigation
NUMU, January 21, 2016 – March 27, 2016
Celestial Vistas: Robert Kooima and Vanessa Marsh
NUMU, October 15, 2015 – January 3, 2016
Rick Guidice: The NASA Paintings
NUMU, September 17, 2015 – February 14, 2016
Giants in the Sky: The Rise and Fall of Airships
NUMU, June 6, 2015 – September 27, 2015
Pacific Art League Juror 2015
See Music, Hear Art
NUMU, June 6, 2015 – September 27, 2015
Hot Spot: Bay Area Studio Glass
The Art Museum of Los Gatos, June 8, 2014 – October 5, 2014.
Backward is Forward: Layer and Impact in Printmaking
The Art Museum of Los Gatos, September 26, 2013 – January 12, 2014
Storytelling in Pictures: From Idea to Art
The Art Museum of Los Gatos, January 17, 2013 – February 24, 2013
Publications
McGrath, Marianne K. “In Conversation with Elizabeth Barlow” In Elizabeth Barlow: Flora Portraits, March 1, 2024, 85-90.
Women’s Caucus for Art, Art Insights (WCA national website), 2021 – 2023. Blog author and Co-Editor https://nationalwca.org/category/art_insights/
McGrath, Marianne K. “In Conversation with Marianne K. McGrath”. In Linda Christensen: Color + Figure, 2020, 43-45.
McGrath, Marianne. 31 Women. Exhibition Catalogue. Whitney Modern Gallery, 2020.
McGrath, Marianne K. Life is Pretty. Catalogue essay published in conjunction with the exhibition “Jennifer Pochinski: Life is Pretty” shown at b. sakata garo gallery, Sacramento, CA., 2017.
McGrath, Marianne. A Conversation with Kristin Lindseth. Catalogue essay/artist interview published in conjunction with the exhibition “Metaphorical/Metaphysical” shown at Peninsula Museum of Art, Burlingame, CA., 2016.
McGrath, Marianne. “The History of Modern Flight Began with a Balloon…” In Giants in The Sky: The Rise and Fall of Airships. Exhibition catalogue. New Museum Los Gatos, 2015.
McGrath, Marianne Kennedy, “San Jose State at Mid-Century 1946 – 1970”. In Creativity, Change, Commitment: A Celebration of 100 Years of the Department of Art. Exhibition Catalogue. Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery, 2013, 65-167.
McGrath, Marianne Kennedy. Reconsidering the Virgin Reader. Master’s Thesis, San Jose State University, 2007.