About me

Helen Trompeteler is a curator and writer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has eighteen years museum experience and is a specialist in photography and lens-based arts. Her practice is centered on broadening access to collections and telling new narratives about underrepresented histories. Past curatorial projects include Prince Albert: His Life and Legacy (2017-20), Josef Breitenbach Research Fellowship at the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona (2016), Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon (2015), Snowdon: A Life in View (2014), and Man Ray Portraits (2013). Helen’s writing has been published internationally in artist monographs, exhibition catalogues, books and arts magazines. She has lectured for organizations including Central Saint Martins, Institute for Historical Research, National Portrait Gallery London, Regent’s University London, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Helen is a committed advocate for the civic role of archives and special collections to encourage dialogue, facilitate cultural exchange and inspire positive social change. She is a board member of Four Corners, a learning, production and exhibition centre for film and photography. From 2018-2019, Helen was part of the Museums Association Transformers Program, a leadership program addressing the civic role of museums in contemporary society.

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Projects

• Prince Albert: His Life and Legacy (2017-2020)From 2017-2020, I was project manager and lead curator of this collaborative digitization project, which will make available some 23,500 items from the Royal Collection, Royal Archives and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Explore more at albert.rct.uk
• Photo50 London Art Fair (17-21 January 2018)Photo50 in 2018 was curated by Hemera Collective, which specializes in photography and lens-based media. I am a former member and contributed to this group exhibition which considered photographic practices and images as a catalyst for interdisciplinary exchange and collective action.
• Photographic Collections Network (2017)PCN is an organization which protects and shares the UK’s diverse photographic collections and archives. I was a researcher and advisor for the network during its inaugural year in 2017.
• Josef Breitenbach Research Fellowship (2016)This research fellowship at the University of Arizona, titled ‘Shared Vision: Experiments in Photography Education: 1945-1975’ sought to examine the history of photography education in the US in the post-war period.
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  Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon (2 July – 18 October 2015)This record-breaking exhibition organized with support from the Audrey Hepburn Estate, examined the development and lasting legacy of Hepburn’s image.
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  Snowdon: A Life in View (26 September 2014 – 21 June 2015)This display celebrated a major gift of photographs from Lord Snowdon to the National Portrait Gallery in 2013, and coincided with a new monograph published by Rizzoli.

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Work history

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Board MemberFour Corners Gallery
May 2017London, United KingdomFreelance
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Researcher and AdvisorPhotographic Collections Network
Mar 2017 - Jan 2018United KingdomFreelance

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Skills

• Curating
• Arts Writing
• Project Management
• Collection Development
• Exhibition Curation
• Art Exhibitions
• Art Criticism
• Board Experience
• Arts Journalism
• Collection Management