Cornelia Stokes Named Inaugural Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora at SFMOMA and MOAD
54Dec. 30, 2025
TheSan Francisco Museum of Modern Artand theMuseum of the African Diaspora, also in San Francisco, have announced Cornelia Stokes as inaugural assistant curator of the art of the African diaspora. Stokes brings more than a decade of experience as a curator, educator, and researcher focused on the African diaspora. She will take up her post at the two institutions on January 5. The KHR McNeely Family Foundation is funding the initial term of the three-year curatorial position.
Stokes arrives to the role from Emblazon Arts LLC, where she was an independent curatorial consultant, and from Casa Arturo and the Locke Estate, where she served as a production assistant and a curatorial consultant, respectively. She previously worked as a research assistant for artist Amy Sherald. Stokes holds an MA in Pan-African studies from Syracuse University and a BA in art with a concentration in art history and curatorial studies from Spelman College.
In her new capacity, Stokes will work with Jenny Gheith, SFMOMA’s curator and interim head of painting and sculpture, and Key Jo Lee, MoAD’s chief of curatorial affairs and public programs, to develop collaborative exhibitions, public programs, and artist-led projects. She will also help SFMOMA continue to diversify its collection.
“Welcoming Cornelia Stokes into this new role strengthens our commitment to placing the African Diaspora at the center of artistic conversations across the world,” said Monetta White, executive director and CEO of MoAD, in a statement. “We are excited to work alongside our neighbors at SFMOMA to support a curatorial practice that is expansive, pushes boundaries and creates new ways to creatively engage with Black artists.”
“Telling a more expansive art history in our galleries and supporting a broad range of artistic voices and perspectives in our programming and collection is essential to our work at SFMOMA,” said SFMOMA director Christopher Bedford. “I am energized by the opportunity to collaborate with Cornelia and MoAD to develop highly relevant and meaningful projects together.”