Education
M.A., Rutgers University - Art History
New Brunswick, NJ
Certificate in Curatorial and Museum Studies, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
B.A., University of New Orleans - Fine Arts
New Orleans, LA
About
Born and raised in NYC, Alexa moved to New Orleans at the age of 18 and graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2005. She obtained her Master's Degree in Art History and Certificate in Curatorial/Museum Studies from Rutgers University in 2010. She is also fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Alexa went on to curatorial and research positions at Princeton University as well as the NY Historical Society and the Zimmerli Art Museum. That same year, she began teaching at UNO, offering a variety of classes that range from Art Survey to more specialized classes in Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque Art & Architecture. She also served as internship coordinator and collaborated with NOMA, Callen Fine Arts and the New Orleans Saints. Current focus includes 300 years of Art in New Orleans, the Influence of Caravaggio in Spain, developing new art historical courses and collaboration with the New Orleans Historical Voodoo Museum and NOMA.
Teaching Philosophy
I aspire to create student-centered learning environments in which the student is in the driving seat of their own learning. This method encourages collaboration and sees classrooms (online or face-to-face) as communities of learners. Learner-centered teachers recognize, and research consistently confirms, that students can learn from and with each other. Learner-centered teachers work to develop structures that promote shared commitments to learning. They see learning individually and collectively as the most important goal of any educational experience. My courses are designed to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of art by equipping students of all backgrounds with a fundamental understanding and basic tools to analyze and discuss art but also to have critical and creative thinking skills so that they can compete for the jobs of the future.
Research Interests
2020-Present New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum/Research, Education, Curating, Archiving and Photography.
2018 From Dirty Jersey to the Dirty South/Photography Book, New Orleans.
2018 Tempestart.com/Fine Arts, Photography and Prints.
2016 Who is Magdalen?/Fine Art Competition Juror
2009 New York Historical Society Exhibition: Remembering 911
2008 “Dark Dreams: The Prints of Francisco Goya”, A Selection from the Collection of the Arthur Ross Foundation. Zimmerli Art Museum.
2007 Zimmerli Art Museum Morse Research Center for Graphic Arts, Rutgers University/Exhibition: Pop Art and Publication: Exhibition Catalogue: Pop Art
2006 & 2005 -UNO Ambassador Award University of New Orleans.
2005 New Orleans Museum of Art/Exhibition: James Castle
Honors and Awards
2006 & 200 -UNO Ambassador Award University of New Orleans
Several intermittent independent studies throughout Italy and Sicily, focusing on the work of Southern Italian Baroque artists such as Caravaggio, Mattia Preti, Massimo Stanzione and Francesco Guarino. Research conducted in Rome, Florence, Naples, Bologna and Palestrina.