Nailah Barnes
About Nailah Barnes
Nailah Barnes is a Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow currently working at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. She focuses on curatorial work, research, and education, and will continue her efforts in Dakar, Senegal as a Fulbright Research Grant Recipient.
Work at High Museum of Art
Nailah Barnes currently serves as a Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. She has held this position since 2021 and will continue for a total of three years. In her role, she collaborates closely with curators to develop exhibitions that highlight historically marginalized artists. Previously, she participated in the Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Summer Academy at the same institution in 2021, where she gained valuable experience in curatorial practices.
Education and Expertise
Nailah Barnes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in International Studies and French from Spelman College, which she completed in 2022. She also studied French Studies during her junior year of high school at School Year Abroad (SYA). Additionally, she attended Deerfield Academy, where she earned her high school diploma. Her academic background equips her with a strong foundation in cultural studies and language, enhancing her work in curatorial and educational roles.
Background
Nailah Barnes has a diverse professional background that includes various roles in cultural and educational institutions. She has worked as a Cultural Heritage Research Assistant at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where she contributed to a project documenting the Rockefeller Fine Arts Building at Spelman College. She also served as a Charles B. Rangel Scholar at the U.S. Department of State and participated in the Harvard Kennedy School Public Policy Leadership Conference.
Achievements
Nailah Barnes is recognized for her contributions to the arts and education through her leadership of The Brains with Beauty Project, a non-profit organization that supports Black girls aged 8-18 through workshops and mentoring. As a Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow, she investigates critical issues of race, gender, and nationality at the 59th Venice Biennale. Her work has focused on bringing attention to marginalized voices in the art world and fostering community engagement.
Current and Future Work
Nailah Barnes is set to continue her career as a curator, researcher, and educator in Dakar, Senegal, as a Fulbright Research Grant Recipient. This opportunity will allow her to expand her research and curatorial practices internationally, furthering her commitment to addressing issues of representation in the arts. She is also actively involved in her current role at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, where she has been working since 2022.