Meet Ciara Moloney of Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciara Moloney.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Ciara Moloney and I am a curator at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. I am from Ireland originally and have always had a passion for art, thanks to being dragged around galleries as a child by my parents. I studied History of Art and Architecture and English Literature at Trinity College Dublin, under some exceptional professors, which inspired me to pursue a career in art.

However, I didn’t really learn about the world of contemporary art until I left university and began working for various art organizations, both non-profit and commercial. I began to develop an interest in art criticism and curating and eventually worked my way into becoming a curator at Modern Art Oxford – a remarkable public art gallery in the U.K. I relocated to Los Angeles in 2016 and began working at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, which has been a great introduction to the city’s outstanding art scene.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Jobs in the art world are always highly sought after, so getting work can be pretty competitive. This seems to have intensified even more in recent years – I count myself lucky that I didn’t have to do multiple internships to get a foot in the door. It has sometimes been difficult to juggle work and independent projects.

I co-curated a traveling residency called JERUSALEM with a friend, which brought artists to inspiring architectural and natural sites in the U.K. This was hugely challenging logistically but ultimately rewarding as not only did we succeed in raising funding, but we also met lots of exciting artists who we may not otherwise have had an opportunity to work with. While doing self-initiated projects like that can take a lot of energy, it certainly helped sharpen my curatorial focus and was a stepping stone to the jobs that I really wanted.

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is a real gem. Not only is it the longest running a public art gallery in the city (founded in 1954!) but it has also hosted early exhibitions by some of the nation’s most important artists, like David Hammons and Kerry James Marshall. The gallery is the only contemporary art space in the city devoted solely to Los Angeles artists and has historically provided a platform for artists of color and women artists.

I am enormously excited by this legacy and eager to live up to it by continuing to invite the city’s best-emerging artists to exhibit in our galleries. As one of this country’s few municipal galleries, all of our exhibitions and programs are free and, last, but not least, we are situated in the idyllic Barnsdall Park, which boasts Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House and spectacular views of the city. It is a great place to visit!

Contact Info:

• Address: 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Website: http://www.lamag.org/
• Phone: (323)-644-6269
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamagbarnsdall/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAMAGBarnsdall/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lamagbarnsdall?lang=en

Image Credit:
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

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