San Francisco’s art scene is poised for a significant shift as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) jointly announced the appointment of Cornelia Stokes as the inaugural Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora last month.
What does this new role entail? Stokes will develop new scholarship on contemporary art from the African Diaspora,and support exhibitions and public programs,and also SFMOMA’s efforts to diversify its collection.
Stokes discovered the position in 2023, instantly drawn to its collaborative spirit and intentionality. She explained that the role appealed to her because of the opportunity to build frameworks supporting long-term curatorial thinking, scholarship, and public engagement for both institutions.
bridging Two Institutions
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The new curator sees distinct strengths in each museum. MoAD, she noted, is uniquely responsive in its programming, “unapologetic and unafraid to foreground lived experience and cultural specificity.” SFMOMA, conversely, brings scale, resources, global visibility, and a strong commitment to collection-building. Stokes envisions the collaboration not as a merging of identities, but as a sharing of influence, knowledge, and resources without diminishing their individual characteristics.
From Autonomous Practice to a Landmark Role
Stokes arrives at SFMOMA and MoAD from Emblazon Arts LLC, an independant curatorial and cultural strategy practice she founded. Through Emblazon, she curated exhibitions, developed public programs, advised on collections and archival projects, and built sustainable infrastructures for artists, often working with limited resources.This experience,she said,taught her to be both rigorous and responsive,flexible and fluid.
Prior to Emblazon Arts, Stokes served as a research assistant for artist amy Sherald. She described working for Sherald as “inexplicable,” praising the artist’s discipline and care. Being part of Sherald’s process reinforced the importance of deep research, compassion, and patience in artistic practice, and the need to protect artists’ time and vision-principles she intends to carry forward in her curatorial work.
Diversifying the Collection: A Complex Task
A key aspect of Stokes’ role involves working with SFMOMA to diversify its collection. She acknowledged that diversifying a collection requires more than simply adding new works; it demands a rethinking of the frameworks of value, ownership, and art-ancient narratives. While she hasn’t yet encountered challenges in the role, she anticipates that entering an ongoing dialog will be a central aspect of her work.
Looking Ahead: A Three-Year Vision
With a three-year tenure, Stokes has a clear vision for success. She hopes the collaboration between SFMOMA and MoAD will establish a framework for continued evolution beyond her time there, potentially through collaborative exhibitions, published scholarship, and public programs that reflect the breadth of the African Diaspora. Personally, she aims to support artists and colleagues in thoughtful, ethical, and generative ways, expanding possibilities for institutions, artists, and audiences alike.
