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I feel so very fortunate that my passion is my profession!"
Susan M. Taylor, Director of the Princeton University Art Museum, is indeed one of those lucky people who are able to turn their favorite pursuit into their life's work.
Her appointment as museum director followed a distinguished career in the art world, including work in the curatorial department at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and Director of the Wellesley College Davis Museum and Cultural Center.
Her choice of profession was not a foregone conclusion, however, says Ms. Taylor. "I went to college thinking I would be a political science major and go on to law school; then I discovered art history. I had traveled as a young child in the U.S. and abroad, and gone to museums in London and Paris. That was part of my experience, but I hadn't thought of it in terms of a career."
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Susan was the daughter of Lucy and Willard Taylor, and she enjoyed the exposure to a variety of cultural activities.
"My mom took me to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo and to the Philharmonic, where I also enjoyed music. We went to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, and I saw a lot of plays. There was great regional theater in Buffalo, too."
Close Relationship
Despite experiencing the death of her father when she was 12, Ms. Taylor remembers a happy childhood. "My mother and I had a close relationship, and in the summer we went to a house on Lake Erie, and I enjoyed all the water activities. I look up to and admire my mother very much."
Susan was also an avid tennis player, making the team at Mt. St. Joseph Academy, where she attended high school, and later played at Vassar College.
She was a good student, especially enjoying history, political science, and geography. Art was not high on her list of interests at that point, and her free time was filled with extra-curricular school activities, such as the drama and debate clubs.
After graduating from high school, Susan chose Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. "I wanted to go away to school, and I thought Vassar would be an interesting place," she explains. "It had a strong history department, and I liked the fact that it was small.
"I was very happy there," she continues. "There was a huge set of choices when I was at college that I'd never had before. I took history and English, and I also very deliberately took the introduction course in art history. The Vassar experience would not have been complete without taking this legendary course.
She liked it so much that plans for political science and law school were swept away by this new-found passion. Not only did she concentrate on art history, she created her own major: history, literature and art in Renaissance and medieval studies.
Lifelong Love
"It was fascinating," she recalls. "It was interesting to learn about art in a different way, within this context of other disciplines. I had wonderful professors, including Eugene Carroll, Ben Kohl, and Peter Heunink.They were supportive of the way I wanted to study art history. I worked hard, and it was an amazing experience."
Susan spent junior year in Rome, and formed a lifelong love of Italy. After graduation, she was awarded the McGuire Fellowship, enabling her to return to Italy. "One of the most formative things that happened to me was the McGuire Fellowship. It was given to a Vassar graduate to study in Europe, and to study in any field. I chose to go to Florence and study conservation and museums.
"I loved the idea of being in Europe and I wanted to focus on conservation because I wanted to do something with my hands," she explains. "I am not an artist, but this way, I was involved with my hands in preservation."
She spent a year in Florence, enjoying the study, the opportunity to travel, and also teaching English as a second language. A major event was the introduction to her future husband, Paolo Meozzi, who was studying environmental science at the University of Florence.
In 1981, Susan decided to return to the U.S. and continue her education. Attending the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, she worked toward a master's degree in fine arts, specializing in the Italian Renaissance.
During this period, she received a curatorial fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts at the Guggenheim Museum, and was then asked to join the curatorial staff, where she coordinated and organized several national and international exhibitions.
New Perspectives
"The Guggenheim was looking for someone who spoke Italian," she explains. "I worked on the exhibition of New Perspectives for Italian Art, and I was involved with all aspects of it, including responsibility for arrangements with artists and curators."
Ms. Taylor stayed at the Guggenheim for three years, and it was a wonderful time, she recalls. "I had a chance to work with the artists, and as a young, aspiring curator, I researched collections, met artists, and organized exhibitions. I felt so lucky."
In 1981, Ms. Taylor and Mr. Meozzi were married, and five years later, they relocated to Boston. She was completing her master's papers, when she was offered the position of Assistant Director of the Wellesley College Museum (later to become the Davis Museum and Cultural Center).
Timing is all-important, and very quickly, a new set of circumstances emerged. "Shortly after I got to Wellesley, the director of the art museum left, and I became acting director," reports Ms. Taylor.
After several months and a thorough search, she was offered the post of director. It was unusual for a person so young — she was 30 at the time — to be given such a prestigious position.
"I felt I could do it," she recalls, "and of course, I was surprised and thrilled. Wellesley was at a moment of growth at the time. They were planning for a new museum facility, and it was quite daunting for me to be responsible for the plans, program, and vision of the new museum, as well as fund-raising for the new building and acquisitions."
Exhibition Medium
Ms. Taylor was instrumental in expanding the permanent collection, particularly in the area of contemporary art. A highlight of her 13-year tenure at Wellesley was the construction of the award-winning museum facility, designed by Spanish Architect Rafael Moneo — his first project in North America.
"It was one of the most extraordinary experiences," she observes. "It was inspiring to work with an architect of his calibre, and it was a factor in my interest in later bringing art and architecture together, and bringing architecture into the museum as an exhibition medium."
Her interest in the interaction of these two disciplines has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. "Susan knows how to work with architects, whether in making a building or engaging with them in exhibition installations," points out Anne Hawley, Director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and a longtime friend of Ms. Taylor.
The opportunity to spend time in New England was another plus during the years at Wellesley, and Ms. Taylor enjoyed taking in the sights, skiing, hiking, and visiting Martha's Vineyard.
She had been aware during this time of the Princeton Art Museum's growing reputation as one of the finest university art museums in the country, and when the directorship was offered to her, she did not hesitate.
"I felt I had done everything I could do at Wellesley by then. We had established the new building and a new program, and now it was time for others to take the lead there."
First Project
Arriving in Princeton in August of 2000, she was eager to assume new responsibilities, and set to work immediately. Her first project was to create an exhibition for the following February, for which nothing had yet been scheduled.
Learning that the museum had drawings from the renowned modernist architect, Le Corbusier (drawings which had illustrated lectures he gave at Princeton in 1935), she quickly put together an exhibition, working in cooperation with the Architecture Department. Incorporating architecture and design into the museum's programming was to be a continuing part of Ms. Taylor's vision.
"The museum is part of the intellectual enterprise that is the University," she points out. "And one of the biggest pleasures is developing programs that respond to the strength of the University. For example, we had an exhibition with Professor David Billington of the Engineering Department on bridges and structural design.
"When I came to Princeton, I had a notion of interdisciplinarity," explains Ms. Taylor. "A museum like Princeton would lend itself to these kinds of activities — encompassing the resources of University professors, and involving faculty members in the program and familiarizing them with the collection."
Interaction with departments outside art has been a significant goal, and actually a theme in her approach to art dating back to the formulation of her major at Vassar. Art within the context of other areas is enlightening, and she has fostered collaboration with University departments, such as history, anthropology, psychology, computer science, and music.
The current exhibition, "Mir Iskusstva": Russia's Age of Elegance, is a case in point, involving the collaboration of several departments, such as music and dance, and including lectures and discussion. An exhibition of works from the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, it has brought forth partnerships with the American Repertory Ballet, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Mark Laycock, and Princeton University faculty.
Contemporary Art
"In the University, our colleagues in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature, the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, the Program in Russian and Eurasian Studies, the Program in theater and Dance, the Princeton University Concerts, and the Cotsen Children's Library have generously given their time and expertise to the project," notes Ms. Taylor.
Another area in which Ms. Taylor's leadership capabilities have been prominent is expansion of the contemporary art collection. "I was very interested in contemporary art," she points out, "and I have enjoyed working with contemporary artists, including Magdalena Abakanowicz, Fred Wilson, Glen Ligon, and Gary Simmons." She also commissioned a ceiling mural for the new Bloomberg Hall by Sol LeWitt.
Ms. Taylor enjoys all aspects of her work as director, including fund-raising, a necessary part of any artistic endeavor. The museum has been the fortunate beneficiary of numerous gifts from alumni, corporations, and foundations.
"One of the great pleasures in fund-raising is to connect someone's interest with a need," she points out. "Our collection has grown and taken shape because of alumni gifts. We rely heavily on alumni, and they have been very generous."
New acquisitions are a special treat for her, and she takes pride in sharing some of their key points with a visitor. "Sometimes, I just walk through the museum, and I am continually amazed at what I discover," she says.
"Our newest acquisition is 'Saints Paul and Barnabas At Lystra', oil on wooden panel by 17th Century Dutch painter Bartolomeus Breenbergh. You can see the influence of Rembrandt in it, and it is very exciting to acquire something like this."
Wider Community
Another new acquisition is "Interment of Christ", oil on copper by Josef Heintz the Elder, 1592-93. Ms. Taylor is thoroughly engaged by it, pointing out, "the beautiful detail" in the hand of one of the women pictured.
One of the areas in which Ms. Taylor has worked hardest is broadening the museum's scope to include the wider community. Reaching out to Princeton residents, and particularly children, is a priority. In doing so, she has worked with the Arts Council of Princeton, the Public Library, and founded the museum's Education Department. Under her stewardship, education progams have included free tours for pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school students from around the area.
"I feel this museum has so much to offer so many different people," she explains.
Ms. Taylor works with a number of individuals and organizations in the Princeton area, and continues to expand and enhance outreach to the community.
Jeff Nathanson, Executive Director of the Princeton Arts Council, has worked with Ms. Taylor for several years, both on the Arts Council and in the selection of art for the Princeton Public Library.
"When I took the director's post for the Arts Council, I soon found that the Arts Council and the museum had an established relationship in collaborating on education projects," says Mr. Nathanson. "We are continuing and expanding on that established relationship based on Susan's and my friendship.
"It has truly been a pleasure to work with her on projects for the Princeton Art Museum as well as for the Arts Council and the Princeton Public Library. Like all good museum directors, Susan has a vast knowledge of art and is a strong manager, but what has impressed me even more is her passion for contemporary art and her understanding of the important role the museum plays in the community."
Warmth and Compassion
Ms. Taylor lives in Princeton with her husband and five-year-old son, Filippo, who takes classes at the Arts Council. She is involved in community activities to the extent she can be, while balancing a demanding job with family life.
Her long-time friend from graduate school days, Cranbury resident Pari Stave, is impressed with Ms. Taylor's ability to do this. "Susan is the consummate professional, and she is very adept at balancing her professionalism with her warmth and compassion.
"The best way I can describe this is to tell you what it's like to see her with her son Filippo. When she is at her job, she is 100 percent committed to the work of the museum. But when she is at home, she completely gives herself over to her son. This is the kind of person she is."
Ms. Taylor also serves on the boards and committees of many professional organizations, including the Association of Art Museum Directors, the American Federation of Arts, and the visiting committee of the Frances Lehman Loeb Arts Center at Vassar College. At Princeton, her responsibilities include membership on the advisory committee for the Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies; member of the President's Advisory Committee on Architecture; and former member of the President's Task Force on the Creative and Performing Arts.
Ms. Taylor was recently selected as one of the YWCA Princeton's Tribute To Women honorees. Established nationally to honor women who have made significant contributions to their profession and community, these awards are given to women based on academic achievement, professional responsibility, community service, demonstrated leadership, ability to communicate, mentoring of others, and special projects or accomplishments.
"I was surprised and honored to be among such distinguished women," says Ms. Taylor. "The fact that I was able to represent art, and that the arts were recognized was a very gratifying experience."
Depth and Quality
In the course of her career, Ms. Taylor has worked with many prominent individuals in the art world, and enjoyed memorable moments. She clearly has the respect and admiration of her colleagues in Princeton and beyond.
"I have been fortunate enough to have been here since the beginning of Susan's tenure at the museum, and it has been an incredible five years," says Becky Sender, Associate Director of the Princeton University Art Museum. "She has brought great energy and enthusiasm to the museum and the community, and has inspired a sense of possibility and promise among the staff. I think all of us who know Susan in her role as museum director would agree that she both understands the depth and quality of the collection and has the vision to think boldly about its potential."
Adds Dr. Harvey Rothberg, retired Princeton physician and now docent at the museum: "Susan Taylor has turned the museum around with her innovative ideas, which have made the place more inviting to everyone. And some of the recent exhibitions that she and her staff have produced have really been spectacular."
Her friend and colleague, Anne Hawley points out Ms. Taylor's ability to connect with museum audiences at all levels. "Susan is so creative conceptually in her exhibitions and her work with artists' projects. She is really very good at creating compelling programs that engage the public."
Ms. Taylor's work makes traveling a necessity, and she is often journeying to far-flung destinations in search of new acquisitions or speaking at professional meetings and conferences.
When opportunity presents itself, she enjoys visiting such favorite museums as the Louisiana, outside of Copenhagen, and the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. "Texas is a huge art center," she notes. "What is especially appealing about these museums is that they are distinguished by their architecture and setting as well as the quality of the collections."
With her husband and son, Ms. Taylor makes frequent trips to Florence, which she loves, and where they have a house.
When at home in Princeton, Ms. Taylor tries to find time for discussion with her new reading group (War and Peace is scheduled for the summer!), and as she points out, "I have a young son, who will start kindergarten in the fall, who likes to go to the playground, and to the Museum of Natural History in New York."
Life is busy for Susan Taylor. But, as she demonstrates, it is just right for her. She is in the right place at the right time.
"As I became more aware of my abilities and interests, I realized that one of the best things I could do was to be the interpreter of these works of art and present them to people. The museum is the best means for me to do this. I think being able to build on the strength of this institution and create more opportunities for the museum to serve the people is important. I look forward to it.
"This is one of the best times of my life."
