Q&A with Alexandra Letvin

Alexandra Letvin is the assistant curator of European and American art at the Allen Memorial Art Museum. In her role, Letvin works with students, faculty, and staff to think about new ways to study and present the Allen’s collection of European and American painting, sculpture, and works on paper before 1900. She began the position in November 2019.

Get to know more about Letvin in this Q&A.

Describe your role in six words.
Research, interpret, display, and teach art

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
The Arboretum. I discovered it in September when I came to Oberlin to find an apartment and was struck by how peaceful and beautiful it is. I may feel different in January!

What did you want to be when you were eight years old?
An architect. After college, I worked at an architecture firm in Chicago for a year and realized it wasn’t for me. But one of the things I love about being a curator is thinking spatially and making visual arguments—two things that architects also do.

What's your favorite place on earth?
Anywhere outdoors where I can break out of routines and be in the moment. This summer my husband and I spent a week hiking in the Colorado Rockies, which was spectacular.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
I love making homemade ice cream, but I would argue that there's no reason to feel guilty about that!

What’s the last book you read?
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips