Meredith Lawhead is a dedicated artist and experienced art handler based in Queens, originally from Upstate New York. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from SUNY Purchase, School of Art + Design, complemented by minors in Arts Management, Art History, and Sociology.
Since graduating in 2018, Meredith has actively pursued her dual passions of art handling/installation and painting, establishing herself within New York City's vibrant art scene. Her professional journey began in galleries, where her ambition for diversity and challenge led her to collaborate extensively with numerous galleries and private clients across the five boroughs and Greater NYC area.
Meredith's art handling portfolio includes significant contributions to prestigious art fairs and exhibitions such as Art Basel Miami, Frieze NY + LA, TEFAF, The Armory Show, Spring//Break, Salon Art + Design as well as engagements with esteemed institutions like Sotheby’s, MoMA, and the Whitney Museum. She has also made notable engagements to pop-up exhibitions, including the successful grand opening of Color Factory in Soho (2018-2019) and the Louis Vuitton ‘200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries’ NY installation in 2022.
Recently, Meredith was integral to the install team for the Whitney Biennial in 2024 and contributed to Art Basel in Switzerland this summer. Her commitment to professional growth is evidenced by her collaborations with Interiors by Annette and participation in specialized courses such as MoMA’s Fashion as Design and a CPD Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator mastery course. These initiatives underscore her dedication to integrating her artistic vision and technical expertise in both installation and design.
Meredith Lawhead continues to define herself as a versatile and accomplished professional within the art community, driven by a passion for creative expression and excellence in execution.
Recent Experience
The Museum of Modern Art Manhattan, NY (01/2023) Freelance Art Handler
The Whitney Museum of American Art Queens, NY (06/2022) Freelance Art Handler
DIETL/ DNA Manhattan, NY (08/2022) Freelance Art Handler
Gander +White Queens, NY (04/2022) Freelance Art Handler
Fine Art Storage + Transport Queens, NY (03/2022) Freelance Art Handler
Authentic Transportation New York, NY (07/2021-02/2022) Freelance Art Handler. Assist with installation, catalogue preparation, and daily gallery duties.
Phillips Auctioneers New York, NY (07/2019-06/2021) Freelance Art Handler. Seasonal art handler, assist with installation, catalogue preparation, and daily gallery duties.
Cadogan Tate New York, NY (07/2019-07/2020) Art Handler/ Installation. Conditioned, pack, crate and move artworks of all sizes. Specialized in private installation and art fair preparation.
Color Factory New York, NY (09/2018-07/2019) Operations Engineer. Member of a small operations team responsible for the grand opening, installation, fabrication, art handling and product sourcing for high volume pop up museum.
Purchase College, School of Art and Design — BFA: Painting and Drawing, Minors in Art History, Arts Management, and Sociology
Purchase NY, 2014-2018
Untitled Space New York, NY (02-03/2019) Artist and curatorial assistance, event set up and deinstall for gallery’s SPRING/BREAK Art Show installation.
Gallery Aferro Newark, NJ (08/2017-05/2018) Dual Arts Administration and Studio Assistant Intern. Managed an intense workload with responsibilities including show preparation, client relations, event posting, database inventory and social media outreach, as well as acting artist liaison, project assistant, and public arts installation.
Group Shows and Residencies
2019
‘It’s Too Early to Tell” Brooklyn, NY
2018
‘Salon Staff Group Show’ Color Factory, Manhattan,NY
‘Salon Group Show’ Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn,NY
‘First Friday (June)’ PoMeCo and CRWN Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
'Oh' Senior Thesis, Purchase College
‘Oddity’ Gallery Space 1019, Purchase CollegE
‘Small Works’ Artist of the Month, Alternatives FCU, Ithaca, NY
‘New Eyes’ Collegetown Bagels, Ithaca, NY
‘Open Show’ Community School of Music and Arts, Ithaca, NY
De Liceiras 18 Artist Residency
Cold Bench, AIRO Online Residency, Winter Session III
2017
‘Red’ Gallery Space 1019, Purchase College
‘Winter Underwater Land’ with Gallery Aferro, Millburn, NJ
‘Senioritis’ Hallway Show, Purchase College
‘Junior Junior’ Hallway Show, Purchase College
‘Screen Printers Anonymous’ Hallway Show, Purchase College
Awards and Certifications
ART
Color Factory Staff Salon Organizer and Co-curator of over 5 shows, 2019
CPD Adobe Certified in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, 2018
MoMA Fashion as Design course, 2018
Studio and Installation Assistant to Tasha Lewis and Amanda Thackray, 2018
Interiors by Annette Interior Design Internship, 2017
Senior Award for Showing Initiative and Achievements in Art,2014
Junior Award for Showing Initiative and Achievements in Art,2013
People’s Choice Award Winner for Best Panel in Ithaca, NY’s Adopt-An-Art-Panel Program,2013
LEADERSHIP
Cascadilla Boat Club Senior Award and 4 years of Varsity Crew,2014
Cornell University Youth Power Summit,2011
Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award for perpetual volunteering in different fields of the community and caring for an incapacitated family member, 2010