Meet our fall 2023 interns, who have just finished up their internships at the Phillips. Read about what they worked on over this past semester.

Fall 2023 Intern Cohort visits Phillips@THEARC

Divya Chhotani, American University

Divya Chhotani is the DEAI Intern. During her time at the Phillips, her primary focus has been conducting an intergenerational study of the staff and understanding the link between DEAI and guest services in the museum space. Through surveys and interviews, Divya assessed if the staff felt that their generation has helped them understand the world better or hindered them in the long run. Divya is from Austin, Texas, and is studying psychology, justice, and law at American University in Washington, DC. Divya enjoys hanging out with her friends and family in her free time, trying new restaurants in DC, and listening to music.

Zi Li, George Washington University

Zi Li is a second-year Art History MA student at the George Washington University. She gained her bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College in 2022 with Art History and Math double major. Her research interest falls in studying intercultural artistic communication and material culture, especially textiles and ornaments. In fall 2023, she worked at The Phillips Collection as a Public Programming intern with Head of Public Programs Ashley Whitfield in the Community Engagement Department. Zi helped with public events such as curator talks, book signings, and Phillips after 5. She researched and planned activities for the December Winter Solstice-themed Phillips after 5, which featured making holiday gift bows, paper lanterns, and origami wreaths. The activities were very popular!

Kelsey Limpert, Salisbury University

Kelsey Limpert is a fall 2020 graduate of Salisbury University, where she received a BFA and an Art History minor. Her thesis exhibition revolved around embroidery, seeking to push beyond conventional conceptions of it as a medium, while also being inspired by Medieval and Proto-Renaissance artwork. While at The Phillips Collection, she interned with the Advancement Department and worked alongside Corporate Relations Officer Miranda Burr. She researched prospective donors for the upcoming Bonnard’s Worlds exhibition, and used that information to draft letters for solicitation packets, which she also prepared and mailed. She also assisted with the project management for the African Modernism in America Stewardship Report, a packet to give to donors and members upon conclusion of the exhibition that highlights the success of the exhibition while also serving as a historical document. For the Membership Department, she combined three reciprocal benefits lists to provide ease of access for current and prospective members and the front desk staff.

Laura Pratt, University of Maryland

Laura Pratt is in the final year of her Master’s of Library and Information Sciences at the University of Maryland. She previously graduated from the College of Wooster with a Bachelor’s in history, specializing in Chinese History with a minor in Technical Theater. Since then, she has worked as an IT assistant at a K-12 school and interned at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, the National Archives, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and now The Phillips Collection as the Library and Archives Intern. In this role, she has been able to expand her experience with fine art archives, process collections of music pamphlets from throughout the institution’s history, and learn about the different departments of the museum. After the close of her internship, Laura will be joining the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park full time as an Archives Technician.

Fall cohort at the National Gallery of Art

The Phillips Collection’s Director of Contemporary Art Initiatives and Academic Affairs Dr. Vesela Sretenovic is departing the museum after nearly 15 years of distinguished service and curatorial accomplishments to pursue independent curating, writing, and teaching. Sretenović began her tenure at the Phillips in January 2009 as Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, the first curatorial position of its kind at the museum. During her tenure, she bolstered the museum’s engagement with contemporary art through innovative and vibrant exhibitions, programs, acquisitions, partnerships, and more. Notably, Sretenović created Intersections, a series of contemporary art projects in which artists—national, international, emerging, and established—were invited to engage with the museum’s permanent collection and historic architecture and create new work(s).

Here we look back at some of the dynamic and bold exhibitions and initiatives that Vesela organized for the Phillips.

Vesela Sretenović and Zilia Sánchez in San Juan preparing for Sánchez’s retrospective Soy Isla (2018)

Ellsworth Kelly: Panel Paintings 2004-2009 (2013), curated by Vesela Sretenović. Photo: Lee Stalsworth

The unveiling of Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi’s Something discernible in the hollow space of its absence (2022), acquired through the Contemporaries Acquisition Fund, led by Vesela Sretenović.

Los Carpinteros with part of their Intersections installation Cuba Va! (2019). Photo: Carl Nard

Vesela Sretenović with Intersections artists at the opening of Intersections@5 (2015), celebrating 5 years of Intersections.

Vesela Sretenović with Bettina Pousttchi’s Intersections installation Double Monuments (2016). Photo: Rhiannon Newman

Vesela Sretenović with Alyson Shotz’s Intersections installation Ecliptic (2011). Photos: Sue Ahn

Bernardi Roig’s The Man of the Light (2005) from his Intersections installation NO/Escape (2014)

Daniel Canogar’s Digital Intersections project Amalgama Phillips (2021) in the Goh Annex Stairwell

Performance at the conclusion of Sanford Biggers’s Intersections installation Mosaic (2021)

Opening for Linling Lu’s Intersections installation Soundwaves (2023), with a conversation between the artist and Vesela Sretenović. Photo: AK Blythe

Through exhibitions, lectures, panels, performances, partnerships, tours, publications, and so much more, Vesela certainly infused the Phillips with contemporary art and spirit. We will miss you, Vesela!

Meet our 2023-24 Souls Grown Deep Conservation Fellow. As part of our institutional values and commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, the Souls Grown Deep Fellow will work within our Conservation department assisting Phillips Collection conservators and collections managers in caring for works of art. Hannah Longbottom Estrada is studying Fine Arts and Emergency Health Services at George Washington University.

Hannah Longbottom Estrada

Why are you interested in working at a museum?

I worked for the Smithsonian American Art Museum for three years before entering healthcare. The pandemic brought me into healthcare, where for a while I planned to connect my art and medicine by doing biomedical illustration in graduate school. However, I quickly realized I missed the museum side of art and preferred creating art in my own time. This brought me where I am today, back in the museum setting. Conservation feels like medicine of the museum world, so in a way treating pieces reminds me of caring for patients and I’m thrilled to be caring for this museum’s collection.

What brought you to The Phillips Collection?

My interest in working with The Phillips Collection particularly stemmed from my previous visits during Third Thursdays, as I enjoyed myself and the environment at each event.

Please tell us about the projects that you will be working on during your fellowship. What do you hope to accomplish during your fellowship?

During my time as the Souls Grown Deep Conservation Fellow, I’ll be assisting Phillips Collection conservators and collections managers in caring for works of art and researching particular time-based media acquisitions. Currently, I am working with the Guerrilla Girls’ portfolio and preparing an artist interview to better understand their installation preferences. Additionally, I’ve helped with reframing works in the collection and have assisted in sculpture upkeep. As a fellow, I hope to strengthen my knowledge of the conservation field and get a better idea of my graduate program preferences.

What is your favorite painting/artist here?

My favorite artist in the collection is tied between the Guerrilla Girls and Philip Guston. My favorite exhibition was Guston’s at the National Gallery, and I was thrilled to examine our collection’s piece up close.

If you were to describe the Phillips in one word, what would that word be?

I’d describe The Phillips Collection as unexpected.

What is a fun fact about you?

In addition to my interest in studying artists’ works, I am a painter and printmaker myself. My primary job is in international emergency medicine, so I enjoy creating art about biopsychosocial aspects of health and illness and health equity. Subsequently, my undergraduate thesis was about queer erasure following Spanish colonization of present-day Guatemala, and I hope to exhibit some of it in our upcoming staff show!