Art history major Kaleigh Gilette ’26 recently shared her experience working as an intern at Spruill Center for the Arts, a gallery and community learning space just a short drive from Oglethorpe University’s campus.

Her hands-on role offered myriad opportunities for her to learn about the intricacies of curation—and no two days ever looked the same. She gained experience cataloging art using professional software used by major museums, and she had the opportunity to attend a Georgia Women in the Arts preview event, building her network and connecting with other curators in the field.

It was Gillette’s capstone project, however, that truly put the aspiring art professional to the test. She was tasked with producing an exhibit and serving as lead curator. With only the semester to turn around an engaging program, Gillette needed to be diligent; she deftly communicated with multiple artists, crafted label copy, hung the art and crafted a narrative around her chosen theme: “Monsters.” The final exhibit featured more than 20 original sculptures, collages and paintings by community artists.

According to Gillette, the experience was invaluable.

“I have always wanted to be a curator, so this internship has been a dream come true,” says Gillette. “Assisting with installations and coordinating with artists has given me a whole new respect for curators and the extreme effort they put into interpersonal relationships. There was a lot of trust put in me to create an exhibition almost entirely by myself, but it has really prepared me for my future work in curation.”

She credits the wide range of art and art history courses at Oglethorpe for preparing her to work in the field. From classes focusing on female artists to archaeology, Gillette feels that her robust education has primed her to excel in any art career after graduation.

Hear more from Gillete about her experience at Spruill in the video above.