Kimberly Drew is leaving Pace Gallery, where she served as curatorial director, to pursue a master's degree in the History of Design at the Royal College of Art in London. She announced her departure on Instagram, noting that she will continue to collaborate with the gallery on a project basis. Drew joined Pace in 2022 as an associate director and was promoted to curatorial director in January 2023.
Drew's exit marks a significant shift for a prominent figure who has straddled museums, media, activism, and digital culture. Her departure from a blue-chip gallery to return to academia underscores a broader trend of art professionals seeking advanced education and signals the evolving career paths within the art world. Drew's influence, including her work on Black Contemporary Art and the anthology "Black Futures," has made her a key voice in amplifying Black artists and creators.