Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta. | Photo courtesy Matthew Kenyatta
IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University announced the appointment of Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta as director of exhibitions and public programs. He started earlier this month.
Kenyatta leads Temple Contemporary, Tyler’s center for exhibitions and public engagement, where he is focusing on underrepresented artists and cultural histories and greater engagement with the local community. He is also taking on a teaching role in the master’s degree program in City and Regional Planning and the Arts Management track in the Art History MA degree program.
“Under Matt’s leadership, we envision strengthening the relationship between Tyler and our North Philadelphia neighbors to become more a porous institution as part of the school’s mission and vision for greater involvement with the community,” Tyler School Dean Susan E. Cahan said in a statement.
An urban planning scholar, Kenyatta previously spent six years at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. At Penn, he taught courses as a community engagement fellow and post doctoral fellow, and also served as director of Justice and Belonging.
Kenyatta earned a Ph.D., in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California; a Master of City Planning in environmental policy and planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a B.A. degree in urban studies with a minor in African and African American Studies from Stanford University.
“My vision is to make Temple Contemporary a space where wonder and discovery thrives.” — Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta
“I’m honored to join Temple Contemporary, a hidden gem on the North Broad Street corridor, and thrilled to help shape its evolution into a dynamic cultural destination for our city,” Kenyatta said in a statement.
“My vision is to make Temple Contemporary a space where wonder and discovery thrives—uncovering the unique identity of this place, exploring the transformative power of art and design, and sparking vital conversations about social and urban change.” CT
FIND MORE about Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta on his website and Instagram
“Black Like That: Our Lives As Living Praxis” featuring artists Karyn Olivier, Pat Phillips, and Tiona Nekkia McClodden is currently on view at Temple Contemporary, from Aug. 30-Dec. 7, 2024
BOOKSHELF
Susan E. Cahan is the author of “Mounting Frustration: The Art Museum in the Age of Black Power.”
