Angélica Becerra Appointed Bradford and Christine Mishler Associate Curator of American Art at The Huntington

The Huntington has named Dr. Angélica Becerra as the Bradford and Christine Mishler Associate Curator of American Art. She will begin her role on August 25. 

Becerra joins The Huntington from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where she has served as the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Prints and Drawings.  

Her projects at the National Gallery included cocurating “Borderlands: Expanded Views of the Southwest,” which reexamined portrayals of the U.S.-Mexico border region through underrepresented voices, and organizing the forthcoming “Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience,” a large-scale exhibition exploring how artists documented and reimagined the American experience through works on paper. She also advanced acquisitions—such as the Gallery’s first work by Chicano artist César Martínez—and contributed to the forthcoming 100 Works to Talk About America, a publication reflecting on the national story through the museum’s collection. 

“We are delighted to welcome Angélica to The Huntington,” said Christina Nielsen, Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Art Museum. “Her scholarly rigor and curatorial vision will enrich how we interpret and share our collections, particularly as we expand the histories we tell through American art.” 
 
Becerra joins The Huntington as it embarks on “Radical Histories: Chicano Prints from the Smithsonian American Art Museum,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum opening in its West Coast debut at The Huntington in November. Featuring 60 works by more than 40 artists and collectives, the exhibition explores six decades of Chicano printmaking as a tool for resistance, cultural reclamation, and community building. A scholar of Chicano visual culture and a practicing printmaker, Becerra brings deep expertise in socially engaged and community-rooted art practices. 

“Angélica’s work as both a scholar and practicing printmaker offers a compelling perspective on American art,” said Dennis Carr, Virginia Steele Scott Chief Curator of American Art at The Huntington. “Her deep engagement with the visual cultures of the United States and Latin America and her commitment to inclusive, community-rooted narratives will help us expand the story of American art with greater depth.” 

Becerra holds a Ph.D. in Chicana/o and Central American Studies from UCLA, where she focused on contemporary Chicano and Latino digital activist art. Her collaborative portrait series was exhibited at the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, and her writing on Latino visual culture has been widely published. Before entering curatorial practice, she held teaching and research roles at Washington State University and UCLA and was a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art. 

“I’m honored to join the Huntington Art Museum’s curatorial team at a time of such meaningful renewal,” said Becerra. “As a scholar and artist, I look forward to helping shape how we present American art to reflect both historical depth and contemporary relevance in ways only The Huntington can.” 

Becerra’s appointment is supported by the Bradford and Christine Mishler Endowment, which advances scholarship and innovation in American art at The Huntington. 

About The Huntington 

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.