The Rural We: Julia van den Hout
Art Omi's new architecture curator will be introducing all of us to different ways of looking at architecture.
Photo: Sean Davidson
Art Omi in Ghent, New York has recently announced the appointment of Julia van den Hout as its architecture curator and program director. Van den Hout is an architecture and design writer, editor and curator. She will be creating and leading the annual Art Omi: Architecture residency program, the first of its kind in the nation. As she explains, her previous professional experiences have prepared her superbly for this new position.
I grew up in Amsterdam and moved with my parents to Chicago when I was a teenager. I went to New York to study art history with a minor in architecture at NYU, and have never left the city. I’m still based in Brooklyn and will be going back and forth for this position.
I always thought I’d go into the art world — I worked in art galleries when I was in college and did an internship at the Art Institute of Chicago in its architecture department. That opened my eyes to how amazing architecture is, especially in terms of how it’s curated and presented to the public.
I graduated during a recession and there were no gallery jobs available. But I saw a job posting at Steven Holl’s architecture firm. I began working there as the front desk receptionist. That job opened up quite quickly — I was able to take on the tasks of doing exhibitions, PR and publications. I learned so much there, and it solidified my love of architecture.
Two years later I went to the School of Visual Arts for a graduate degree in design criticism. The program focused on writing about design and exhibiting it and how design connects with the larger public. I went back to Steven Holl for another two years as the press director, bringing the work of the architect out to the media and readers. I also co-founded an architecture journal. In 2014 I decided to go out on my own and began Original Copy, my own communications company. That gave me the opportunity to work with some well-known architects and others from smaller firms. I also worked on a group exhibition of 25 young architects. It was a traveling show that was exhibited at Art Omi and that’s when I became aware of it.
Art Omi is such a beautiful venue that attracts a local community of artists, writers, dancers, people in a lot of different arts. For an architect to be included in that lineup is quite rare; architecture is not often given an equal seat at the table. Art Omi’s residency program has a great history that celebrates the various arts, and it’s one of the only architecture residencies out there.
We’re beginning to map out what the next calendar year is going to look like, but the residency will be two weeks of exploring, producing, and testing ideas, culminating in a public presentation. Besides the residency, my position is responsible for curating an exhibition every year in the indoor gallery and the sculpture park, and programming talks, events and tours. I’m excited about expanding that element. In the last 18 months we’ve seen that geographic distance is not insurmountable when it comes to programming. Virtual talks and lectures allow us to connect with an even larger audience.
