Essence Harden appointed Senior Curator at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Essence Harden is set to become the Senior Curator at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts starting May 18, 2026. Renowned for enhancing visual narratives and collaborating with artists, Harden recently curated major exhibitions at EXPO Chicago and Frieze LA, and was involved in the 2025 Made in LA biennial at The Hammer Museum. This position brings her back to the Bay Area, where she was raised in Oakland and Berkeley, and completed her education at UC Berkeley, focusing on the 1970s art collective Studio Z and Black visual studies for her doctorate. Her vision aligns perfectly with YBCA's progressive agenda.
Key facts
- Essence Harden appointed Senior Curator at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
- Appointment begins May 18, 2026
- Harden curated the 2026 editions of EXPO Chicago and the Focus section for Frieze LA
- Co-curated The Hammer Museum's Made in LA biennial in 2025
- Harden grew up in Oakland and Berkeley, California
- Attended University of California, Berkeley for undergraduate and graduate school
- Ph.D research focused on 1970s Los Angeles art collective Studio Z and Black visual studies
- Appointment marks Harden's return to the Bay Area
Entities
Artists
- Essence Harden
Institutions
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
- EXPO Chicago
- Frieze LA
- The Hammer Museum
- University of California, Berkeley
- Studio Z
Locations
- Oakland
- Berkeley
- Los Angeles
- Bay Area
- California
- United States