(Photo is courtesy of Stephen Gabris)
Tiffany Gaines is a writer, curator, and photographer interested in highlighting her community’s diverse arts and artists. She is the Curator of Community and Collaborative Exhibitions at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Tiffany’s writing has been published in Hyperallergic, and her work has been included in exhibitions at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and CEPA Gallery. She holds a BA in Journalism from Buffalo State University and an MA in Visual Studies from the University at Buffalo.
1) What do you do as the Curator of Community and Collaborative Exhibitions at the Burchfield Penney Art Center? What other roles have you had there, and what was your career path that led you there?
As a regional art museum, the Burchfield Penney is dedicated to elevating the work of artists throughout Buffalo and the Western New York region. In my newest role as the Curator of Community and Collaborative Exhibitions, I will continue curating exhibitions that celebrate historic and contemporary artists and broaden our reach by overseeing the development of Community Gallery spaces throughout Western New York. By establishing cultural partnerships that will bring our work and collection into new spaces throughout the region, I’m excited to continue making the arts accessible and to collaborate with our incredible community partners. I’m fortunate to have worked in several positions throughout my 8 years at the museum. I started as an admissions and museum store associate, my first introduction to museum work and arts administration.
With a writing background, I had the opportunity to begin writing curatorial content for the website before joining the team full-time as the curatorial and digital content associate in 2020. Since then, my curatorial practice has grown significantly, and I transitioned into a full-time associate curator position in 2024. As my practice extends beyond the museum walls in this new role, I look forward to expanding how we engage with art in the community and approach museum work through an equitable, community-centered lens.
2) What was your educational background, and how did it influence your career path?
During my undergraduate studies, I had no idea what to study or the career path I wanted to pursue. I changed my major three times before landing on a journalism degree. Having always been a writer, journalism gave me the tools to understand the importance of interviewing and storytelling. These have been invaluable to my work connecting with artists to understand their practice and putting their work in a broader context for diverse audiences. As I settled into my newfound career path as a curator, I knew I wanted to return to school to further my knowledge of art history and build on my lived experiences.
I attended UB for the Visual Studies Master’s program, an interdisciplinary program that allowed me to tailor my studies to my interests. As both a curator and photographer, the program gave me the theoretical grounding I was looking for and the space to experiment with my photography. This experience has undoubtedly helped refine my vision for curatorial and artistic practices.
3) What organizations, clubs or internships were you involved in during college?
I was incredibly shy when I started college, but getting involved on campus helped me come out of my shell and develop a comfort level for public speaking that is essential to my work today. I was an executive board member of The Ink Club, a poetry and spoken word organization that introduced me to the power of creative expression. Additionally, I worked as a student ambassador, giving tours to prospective students and families, and in the Small Business Development Center, which were both integral public-facing roles. I also worked as a communications intern in the Buffalo State Institutional Advancement department, assisting with their marketing and written content. This was particularly notable as my former supervisor connected me with the Burchfield Penney’s museum store manager for an admissions associate position, and the rest is history.
4) Looking back, what, if anything, do you wish you had known when you were just starting out?
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and discover my passions. Looking back, I only wish I had given myself the room to experiment and take risks earlier than I did. Being so worried about figuring out my career, I didn’t allow myself to explore who I wanted to be as an artist fully. Fortunately, I have been able to step more into that space now, but I wish I had known that it was okay to embrace the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next a little more.
5) What are the biggest challenges that you typically face in your career?
Museums have historically had a reputation for being inaccessible and having limited diversity in staffing and administration. While there have certainly been strides overall, and my personal experience and trajectory have been incredibly positive, there is still a need for change. The biggest challenge I see is reimagining the role of museums in our lives and how they connect to the communities we serve. I’m fortunate enough to work at an institution where our community is at the heart of our work, and we have leadership that is constantly envisioning new ideas for our museum to be an impactful, authentic, and meaningful agent of change in the region. As support for the arts continues to be threatened on a federal level, this is a pivotal moment to consider how the traditional museum model must adapt and evolve to ensure that the arts remain a sustained and supported part of our communities.
6) What advice do you have for anyone that would want to pursue a career in working in the art industry and/or photography or writing?
As an artist and an arts administrator, I’ve picked up many lessons throughout my journey. Some of the most influential are:
It’s essential to get involved in the arts community. There are so many cultural institutions, artists, and groups to connect with. Put yourself out there to meet new people, and you’d be surprised at the opportunities and ideas that may emerge. Buffalo has a robust arts scene with plenty of opportunities for group exhibitions, calls for work, and writing submissions, but you won’t know what’s possible unless you explore!
It’s okay to take your time. In the digital age, it’s easy to feel the pressure to deliver work quickly and constantly. Give yourself room to experiment often, and don’t fear failure. Try new ideas and pivot as necessary. Take the time you need to make work that feels authentic to your voice and vision. That will carry you much further than rushing your process for the sake of having something to share.
Be open-minded. The journey may not always look exactly the way you imagine. You may find yourself expressing your creativity through other ways you may not have anticipated. Be open to the process, unexpected lessons, and shifts that come with it.
7) If a UB student wanted to talk with you, what is the best way to reach you?
You can find me on Connect-a-Bull or reach out to me on LinkedIn! If you’d like to stay updated on all the exciting things happening at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, follow us on Instagram @burchfieldpenney.
NOTE: if you are a UB student or alumnus who would like to connect with others to give or get career insights you can join Connect-a-Bull. Interested in sharing your career story with UB students by answering questions like Tiffany? Email Ed Brodka, UB Career Design Consultant, at brodka@buffalo.edu.
