Petrouchka Moïse Joins MoMA's Cisneros Institute as 2023 Research Fellow

Petrouchka Moïse, assistant professor and Cultural & Community-based Digital Curator in the Grinnell College Libraries, has been accepted as a 2023 research fellow at the Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) Cisneros Institute. A new chapter of exploration begins, centered around the project "Bridging the Sacred: Spiritual Streams in Twentieth-Century Latin American and Caribbean Art, 1920-1970." 

Moïse shared, “‘Bridging the Sacred’ emerges as a compelling intellectual endeavor, aiming to unravel the intricate connections between spirituality and art across the Latin American and Caribbean canvas from 1920 to 1970. I feel that this work is a continuum with the Haitian Arts Digital Crossroads project and my personal research on reverse-engineering contemporary works of art back into sacred spaces.” 

As a member of the esteemed research fellowship, Moïse is poised to engage in dynamic dialogues with fellow experts, specialists, MoMA personnel, and specially selected guests. Over the coming year, a series of approximately six two-hour sessions will serve as a platform for immersive discussions, dissecting the artistic practices rooted in Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Caribbean, Occult, Catholic, and Indigenous traditions. 

The collective discourse of the fellowship will pave the way for thought-provoking articles and publications that delve into the nuanced interplay between artistic expression and spiritual beliefs. The products of these exchanges are for MoMA's esteemed publications. 

Moïse's acceptance into the MoMA Cisneros Institute's research fellowship stands as a testament to her prowess and passion. This accomplishment signifies the significance of art as a conduit for profound spiritual connections.