Martin Strickland

Martin Strickland has a diverse work experience in the arts and community-focused organizations. Martin started their career as a Staff Writer for NOLAlicious in 2010 and later worked as a Communications Assistant/Intern at the New Orleans Museum of Art from 2009 to 2011. In 2008, they became a Community Specialist at CrescentCare, where they co-coordinated the MPowerment Project, a CDC-funded HIV prevention intervention. Martin then joined the San Francisco Art Institute as a Web Content Specialist for The Walter & McBean Galleries, contributing to the development of meaningful interactions between artists, students, and audiences.

In 2012, they served as an Independent Contractor for the San Francisco Arts Commission, leading the signage redesign for the Terminal 2 Public Art at SFO. The same year, Martin became a Program Assistant at the Arts Research Center (ARCS) at UC Berkeley, contributing to the development and mobilization of excellence in arts and design at Berkeley.

Martin's passion for community engagement and public spaces led him to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where they held various roles. Martin started as an Assistant Registrar, responsible for art storage facilities and leading installation teams from 2013 to 2016. Martin then became an Exhibitions Associate, managing exhibitions and site-specific projects until 2018. As Associate Director of Public Programs from 2018 to 2019, Martin worked on designing and implementing a year-round public programs strategy. Martin later became the Associate Director of Public Life, focusing on developing a culture of invitation and fostering deep relationships with the community. In 2021, Martin took on the role of Director of Curatorial Projects & Public Engagement, and is currently serving as the Director of Curatorial Initiatives at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Martin Strickland completed their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with double majors in Advertising and Art History at The University of Alabama from 2004 to 2008. Prior to that, they attended Saint James School in Montgomery, AL, from which their specific degree and field of study are unknown. Later, Martin pursued a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Exhibition and Museum Studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, completing it from 2011 to 2013.