LACMA photo curator Charlotte Cotton returns to England

Charlotte Cotton, a British curator who has led the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's photography department for the last two years, is joining the staff of the National Media Museum in Bradford, England. As creative director of the museum's planned expansion in London, she will play an active role in establishing the new space and shaping its exhibition program.

Cotton came to LACMA after 12 years of curatorial work at the Victoria & Albert Museum, followed by a period of organizing projects at smaller institutions in London and New York.

In Los Angeles, she has overseen the acquisition of the Leonard and Marjorie Vernon collection of about 3,500 prints, organized an exhibition of Philip-Lorca diCorcia's work and presided over a lively series of performances, conversations and screenings.

The Bradford museum opened in 1983 as the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television and later expanded into new media. With large collections in the areas of photography, photographic technology, television and cinematography, the museum attracts about 700,000 visitors a year to its exhibitions and related programs. The London galleries are intended to establish a presence for the museum in the nation's capital.

-- Suzanne Muchnic

Photo: Charlotte Cotton. Credit: Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[LAisDying]

It's hard to blame Cotton. LA's economy and culture are sinking ships. The only places to be are London, NY and Chicago.

Another loss for Los Angeles.

[anon]

Another loss for Los Angeles? Not bloody likely. What's the British equivalent of all hat, no cattle?

[Donald Frazell]

Her last two shows were black and white photos presented as paintings of Henry VIII and his wifes from the wax museum, and some decadent old broad who photographed huge scenes of neo romantic decadence, like Nero's parties and ancient melodramatic battle scenes. Even Meissonier would be disgusted. All "concept" no substance. DOA.

Byebye, now get some curators who understand life, have lived it, and dont whine about trips to Europe. Creative art is for and by the strong, of mind, body and soul, not empty whimps.

art collegia delenda est

[teenagerobot]

This curator came to LACMA with energy and ideas and has barely been allowed to implement any of them. It is indeed a loss for LA museums. Yet another loss I should say...