As the recipient of the William A. Camfield Undergraduate Fellowship, Kenzie Pickett '23 will work as an intern in the coming academic year at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with museum curators of the Indigenous arts of Africa, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and the Americas on a new installation of an Indigenous Colombia exhibition and on the reinstallation of the Indigenous South American collections.
Double majoring in Art History and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, Kenzie talks about her fellowship goals below:
“Next year I intend to write my honors thesis on the construction and perception of identity within the museum space through the display of cultural heritage objects. As museums continue to evolve and improve elements of accessibility and representation, it’s crucial to investigate how museums interact with different communities. I believe that the Camfield Fellowship addresses these issues while providing a unique insight into the internal mechanisms of the MFAH. Before returning to the world of academia and abstract theories, the fellowship will give me a real-world perspective on how a museum on this scale functions, and the realities of the museum space. Through the publication of my honors thesis and completion of my undergraduate degree, I intend to continue my studies with a Master’s degree in museum studies and curatorial practice. I believe that the experience from the Camfield Fellowship will become an integral part of my foundation as an art historian and curator. It will also strengthen my position within the competitive field of museum curation. To enter this field with a combination of museum internships, research experience, and excavation experience would be an incredible jumpstart for my career."