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The Taste of Art: Julian Zugazagoitia at TEDxKC

2,822 views · Published 1 October 2012 · 6:08 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2012 · Howto & Style

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At a time when information and visual images are so instantly accessed on the web, museums are being rediscovered as an oasis of authenticity in which to explore the world's complexity and our own identities. Museums, the guardians of the highest expressions of humankind, can connect us with greatness in all its forms, but perhaps more importantly, they connect us to the multiple dimensions of ourselves. 'Slow art'-- suggests we savor intently the artworks on each visit, and that in doing so museums become a place for the journey of self-discovery.

BIOGRAPHY
Julián Zugazagoitia, a man whose passion for the arts has taken him around the globe, is the fifth director of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and took his post September 1, 2010. Since arriving at the Museum, he has shown a high interest in reaching out to the community and in making the Nelson-Atkins more open and accessible to all visitors. Born in Mexico and educated at the Sorbonne Paris IV in France, Zugazagoitia speaks six languages and has worked at institutions in the Americas and Europe. Before moving to Kansas City, Julián was the Director/CEO of El Museo del Barrio in New York, a leading institution in the field of Latin American and Latino art. He led the institution through a $35 million renovation project that resulted in new gallery spaces and a refurbished facility. He has also collaborated with such institutions as the Museum of Modern Art, the National Portrait Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Before leading El Museo del Barrio, Julian worked at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York as Executive Assistant to the Director. As a consultant and curator, he also worked with the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles and UNESCO, organizing exhibitions, events and conferences internationally. He also curated exhibitions as Director of Visual Arts with the Spoleto Festival in Italy.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations).

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