Selam Bekele Email & Phone Number

United States

In 2024, I leveraged my creative expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to provide consulting services in exhibition design, art curation, and creative strategy. This period allowed me to explore new creative challenges, build on my project management skills, and engage with innovative design concepts. Highlights include:Consulting Projects: Collaborated with diverse clients on custom design solutions, specializing in immersive exhibition design, spatial planning, and creative direction. I helped clients translate their vision into impactful, visually compelling experiences that resonated with their target audiences.Thought Leadership & Publications: Contributed to industry publications, sharing insights on the intersection of art, design, and technology. My articles on future-facing design trends and curatorial innovation were featured in prominent design platforms, reinforcing my reputation as a thought leader in the field.Creative Innovation: Focused on expanding my technical skills, particularly in 3D visualization and immersive technologies, positioning myself to lead cutting-edge projects that blend art, design, and digital storytelling.This year was a time of focused creativity and professional growth, setting the stage for the next chapter in my career, where I’m eager to bring my elevated skills and fresh perspectives to larger-scale projects.

San Francisco Bay Area

-Spearheaded the design and execution of 12+ high-profile exhibitions, significantly enhancing the museum's cultural impact and increasing visitor engagement by 30%.-Led the redesign of 20,000 sq ft of museum space, optimizing space utilization, improving visitor flow, and elevating the aesthetic of the three-floor institution.-Collaborated with award-winning curators and international artists, forging relationships with prestigious institutions like Aperture, Fotografiska, and MoMA.-Managed end-to-end exhibition processes, from concept through execution, coordinating with cross-functional teams (design, marketing, tech) to ensure seamless integration and high-quality delivery.-Oversaw logistics for receiving, arranging, and returning artworks from international galleries, managing complex timelines and ensuring the integrity of institution.-Conducted quality assurance (QA) checks to ensure all exhibitions adhered to design standards, branding, and compliance regulations.

San Francisco Bay Area

-Supported the creative vision and execution of cutting-edge exhibitions, collaborating with award-winning artists such as Jeffery Gibson, Cecilia Vicuña, and Lorraine O’Grady to produce thought-provoking programming -Managed the full lifecycle of exhibitions, from research and design to public engagement, ensuring projects resonated deeply with audiences and advanced the museum’s curatorial mission.-Drove innovation in exhibition design by experimenting with new media and immersive experiences, positioning the Wattis Institute as a leader in contemporary art and exhibition programming.-Directed multidisciplinary teams across curatorial, marketing, and technical departments, ensuring timely project delivery and alignment with both artistic and logistical objectives.-Managed budgets and schedules, balancing creative ambitions with financial and timeline constraints to deliver high-impact exhibitions that were well-received by both the public and critics.-Expanded the Wattis Institute’s global reach by building and maintaining relationships with international art institutions, curators, and collectors.

Oakland, California, United States

-Designed a multimedia installation for the critically acclaimed exhibition, Mothership: Voyage into Afrofuturism, which attracted over 40,000 visitors and received widespread praise for its innovative approach to Afrofuturism.-Collaborated with tech, marketing, and curatorial teams to create a visually stunning, immersive experience that blended cutting-edge design with cultural storytelling, elevating the exhibition’s narrative.-Developed a cohesive concept and narrative that resonated with a diverse global audience, leveraging expert research, design, and writing skills.-Led the design and execution of complex multimedia elements, including interactive displays, projection mapping, and soundscapes, ensuring seamless integration of technology and artistry.-Enhanced the visitor experience by creating an interactive environment that encouraged deeper engagement, resulting in high visitor satisfaction and repeat attendance.

Los Angeles, California, United States

New York, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

New York City Metropolitan Area

New York, New York, United States

Master Of Arts - Ma, Curatorial Practice

B.A, Film/Cinema/Video Studies