Center for African Studies

Susan Cooksey is the former curator of African Art at the Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida.  She strengthened the Harn’s African collection by adding works from diverse regions of Africa and the African diaspora previously unrepresented, and by acquiring a large number of works by women artists and prominent contemporary artists.  While curating forty-five exhibitions she worked with partners on the University of Florida campus as well as local, national, and international artists, scholars, collectors, gallerists, and museums.  Her major travelling exhibitions with publications were Africa Interweave:  Textile Diasporas; Kongo across the Waters (co-curated with Robin Poynor of the University of Florida, and Hein Vanhee of the Afrika Museum, Belgium); and Peace, Power and Prestige: Metal Arts of Africa.  She has served as an editor for African Arts Journal, and African Studies Quarterly, as a museum consultant and contributes to community projects focused on African culture, art, and heritage.