Leeann Ream

Leeann Ream is a Research Fellow with Independent Curators International. She is also an MA student in Museum and Exhibition Studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Before attending the MUSE program at UIC, Leeann earned a BFA in Studio Arts from Bowling Green State University, where her thesis exhibition focused on drawing the figure from observation. Her undergraduate experience was supported by multiple grants from the university's Center for Undergraduate Research, a residency at the New York Academy of Art, student work in the university galleries, multiple exhibition opportunities, as well as awards for artistic talent and leadership. After graduating, she began work at the Toledo Museum of Art, where she was promoted to Visitor Experience Supervisor. While at TMA, she was awarded Employee of the Month for safely relaunching the volunteer program post-COVID shutdown. While at UIC, Leeann has held multiple assistantships. Recently, she has also worked as a Research Assistant at the Chicago History Museum. Her MA experience has been supported by grants from the Graduate Student Council where she serves as a program representative as well as a MUSE Travel grant. She has moderated the 2021 International Visual Literacy Conference as well as presented People, Property, and the Panopticon: Envisioning the Post-Museum through Decolonial Marxist Analysis of Museum Collections at the 2022 Inclusive Museum conference. She is currently developing a publication for ICI as part of her fellowship.