Laura V. Putnam has been promoted to Curator of Exhibitions at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (AGB) at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Putnam, who has worked at the museum since 2013 and previously served as manager of exhibitions and adult programs, stepped into an expanded role following the departure of former Executive Director and Chief Curator Alex Rich. She has curated recent exhibitions including "Darkroom Alchemy: Photographs by Jerry Uelsmann," "Surreal Scenarios: The Art of Susanne Schuenke," and "The Medici Dynasty: Renaissance in Florence."
This appointment matters because it reflects the museum's commitment to internal talent development and continuity in its curatorial leadership during a transitional period. Putnam's deep institutional knowledge and experience overseeing complex exhibition logistics position her to shape the AGB's exhibition program moving forward, while her role as an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College bridges museum practice with academic training in art history and museum studies.