BOSTON (July 25, 2024)—The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), announced today the appointment of Jared Katz as Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments. He currently serves as Associate Curator of the Americas and Africa and Assistant Professor of the Practice at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame. Katz will assume his new role at the MFA on September 9, taking the lead in shaping the vision for the Museum’s collection of 1,300 musical instruments from around the world, which ranges from ancient times to the late 20th century.
“I am delighted to be joining the staff at the MFA as the Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments. I am passionate about using music and musical instruments to celebrate a wide array of cultures throughout time,” said Katz. “I have found that music, as a highly relatable topic, is a wonderful lens to explore the lived experiences and stories of people who are separated by time, distance or other factors in order to grow empathy in community. I look forward to continuing this work at the MFA.”
The MFA’s world-class collection of musical instruments was founded in 1917 and includes examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Museum visitors can enjoy and learn about the collection through exhibitions and gallery displays, as well as through live demonstrations, concerts, videos and audio samples, lectures and publications. Musical instruments can be found not only in their dedicated gallery, but integrated throughout the Museum, inviting audiences to consider them in many contexts. In his new role, Katz will develop an engaging portfolio of exhibitions, publications, programs and initiatives to bring this historic collection to life.
Katz’s research explores ancient Mesoamerican music and sound, and he has published and lectured widely on this topic. He developed a technique to create playable replicas of ancient musical instruments with 3D printing. These instruments are part of an installation at the 2024 Whitney Biennial by Clarissa Tossin, titled, Mojo’q che b’ixan ri ixkanulab / Antes de que los Volcanes Canten / Before the Volcanoes Sing. In his current role at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, he has worked on the design and installation of the Indigenous Art of the Americas suite of galleries and the African Art galleries. He is currently curating an exhibition on the work of Los Angeles-based artist Clarissa Tossin, All That You Touch, You Change.
Katz received his bachelor’s degree at Lafayette College and a doctorate in anthropology at the University of California, Riverside, with a dissertation on ancient Maya musical practices. He was a postdoctoral curatorial fellow and consulting curator at the Denver Art Museum, where he assisted with the new Arts of the Ancient Americas galleries, curated Rhythm and Ritual: Music of the Ancient Americas and helped with ReVisión: Art in the Americas. He has taught art history at the University of Denver and served as a visiting curator at the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The MFA brings many worlds together through art. Showcasing masterpieces from ancient to contemporary, our renowned collection of nearly 500,000 works tells a multifaceted story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. From Boston locals to international travelers, visitors from all over come to experience the MFA—where they reveal connections, explore differences and create a community where all belong.
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