Spotlight with Milly Cardoso
Milly Cardoso, Gallery Director & Curator, University of Miami, Miami, FL USA
Could you tell us a little more about your background and how you got into curating?
I was born and raised in Miami and have always felt connected to the city’s cultural landscape. My path into curating began while studying Photography and Art History at Barry University, where I had the opportunity to intern with Micky Wolfson’s collection, now The Study Center in downtown Miami. Working with collections and archives introduced me to the institutional side of the art world and sparked my interest in exhibition-making and research.
After graduating, I joined the Miami Art Museum, now Pérez Art Museum Miami, where I eventually worked as a Research Assistant in the Curatorial Department. That experience gave me an understanding of how exhibitions evolve from ideas into public experiences. Since 2010, I’ve served as Director and Curator of the University of Miami Gallery, where I curate exhibitions and develop public programming. Alongside that work, I also curate independently and created SeeArtMiami: In the Studio, a project that extends my interest in supporting artists and building platforms for dialogue.
Who/what has influenced your curatorial practice?
I’m most influenced by conversations with artists and by the process of understanding how ideas take shape. I’ve always been interested not only in finished works, but also in what happens behind them, the experimentation, uncertainty, and personal experiences that inform creative practice.
I’m also interested in creating environments where artists feel comfortable sharing their perspectives openly. Through my curatorial work and SeeArtMiami, I’ve come to appreciate how important listening is within the curatorial process. I think some of the strongest experiences emerge from building trust and creating space for authentic dialogue. Those relationships continue to shape how I approach exhibitions and projects.
The role of the curator is continuously changing. Could you describe what it means to be a curator today?
To me, being a curator today means being a facilitator, listener, and connector. Curating is no longer only about selecting works and organizing exhibitions; it’s increasingly about creating platforms for dialogue and building meaningful relationships between artists and audiences.
I think contemporary curatorial practice also requires a sense of care and adaptability. We’re working in a moment where people are seeking connection and authenticity, so I see the role as creating spaces where artists feel supported and where audiences can engage with work on a more human level. I’ve become increasingly interested in demystifying artistic practice and giving artists opportunities to speak in their own voices. I think curating today is about creating conditions for those conversations to happen.
What’s next for you? What are your upcoming projects?
One of the projects I’m most excited about is SeeArtMiami; an ongoing documentary-style video series that offers intimate portraits of Miami-based artists. Each episode is filmed as a continuous, conversational experience within the artist’s studio, creating a space where they can speak openly about their work, influences, challenges, and personal journeys.
What interests me most about the project is that it shifts attention toward process rather than just finished outcomes. It explores themes like identity, memory, resilience, and community while giving viewers a more personal understanding of artistic practice. My goal has always been to create a platform where artists feel comfortable sharing their stories authentically.
I’m also excited about the new gallery space at the University of Miami Department of Art & Art History, developed from a converted chapel and now open to the public. The space creates new opportunities for exhibitions, public programming, and community engagement.
I’m currently developing a series of exhibitions focused on Cuban artists, beginning in July with an exhibition featuring the work of William Osorio. Living and working in Miami, I’m interested in fostering conversations around identity, memory, and cultural experience. I see this as the beginning of a larger curatorial project centered on deeper visibility, exchange, and dialogue.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to now, that is helping you to stay relaxed and positive?
I’m currently reading An Apprenticeship, or The Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector. It’s such a beautiful meditation on experiencing life through joy. I also recently reread Splendor in the Grass, which remains one of my favorite books.
Music means a lot to me, I listen to music every single day. I love bouncing between genres; I can’t imagine only listening to one kind of music. Hip hop, especially, always lifts my mood. The last song I played was Shine a Light by Shabazz Palaces.
Right now, the albums in heavy rotation are The Lion and the Cobra by Sinéad O’Connor, easily one of my top five albums of all time, along with New Skin for the Old Ceremony by Leonard Cohen and Power of Soul by Idris Muhammad. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Minnie Riperton; her music always leaves me feeling relaxed and positive.
And recently, I’ve been getting into grounding. Sometimes you really do just need to touch grass.
How long have you been part of IKT?
I was recently accepted as a member of IKT, so I’m still at the beginning of that experience, which is very exciting. What attracted me to the organization is the opportunity to engage with an international network of curators and to be part of conversations that extend beyond my immediate community and region.
Throughout my career I’ve valued dialogue and exchange, and I see IKT as an important space for learning from colleagues working across different cultural and institutional contexts. I’m looking forward to building connections, sharing experiences, and gaining new perspectives that can continue to inform and expand my curatorial practice.
Thank you Milly!
Learn more about Milly and her work: YouTube Channel / Instagram
Spotlight
Spotlight is a series of short interviews, aiming to showcase the diverse expertise and innovative approaches of our IKT members. Whether you're seeking inspiration or searching for potential partners, join us on this captivating journey as we uncover the stories, ideas, and creative visions of our members.
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