Staff

Executive Office

Steven Matijcio | Executive Director

Steven Matijcio comes to the KMA with a wealth of curatorial and administrative experience and a solid track record of significant engagement with contemporary art and artists at a global level. Prior to his position at the Blaffer Museum, Matijcio served as curator at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (2013-2019) and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (2008-2013). He previously held positions in a number of important galleries and museums including the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Winnipeg; Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto; Art Gallery of Ontario; and National Gallery of Canada. He was chosen from an international pool of candidates in 2011 to participate in curatorial residencies in Gwangju, South Korea and Berlin, Germany; named artistic director of the 2012 edition of the Narracje Festival in Gdansk, Poland; and more recently was chosen as commissaire (artistic director) of Manif d’art—the Quebec City Biennial. He has lectured on theory and criticism at the University of Manitoba, written for numerous catalogs and journals (including the Guide to the 27th Sao Paulo Bienal), and was commissioned in 2003 by the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation to curate one of its first online exhibitions. Matijcio holds a master’s degree from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, New York and bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto.

Steven Matijcio

DAVID L. BUTLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Chelsea Lloyd | Executive Administrator

Chelsea joined the KMA staff as a Visitor Services Representative in April of 2017. She was promoted to Volunteer Coordinator in July of 2018, to Administrative Coordinator for Development in April of 2022, and then to Executive Administrator in January of 2024. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008 from the University of Alabama with a concentration in Sculpture and a minor in Printmaking. During her time there she was awarded the Arts & Sciences Outstanding Sophomore and became a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and the Golden Key Honor Society.

Chelsea Lloyd

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS

Stephen Wicks | BARBARA W. AND BERNARD E. BERNSTEIN CURATOR

Stephen C. Wicks is the Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA). He has guided the KMA’s curatorial department for more than 25 years. He manages the museum’s exhibitions program and guides the development of its collections of East Tennessee-related art and international contemporary art. Wicks was instrumental in helping the KMA build the world’s largest and most comprehensive public collection of the Knoxville-born painter Beauford Delaney’s art. He has organized dozens of exhibitions, including Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door, Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee, the first ongoing display devoted to East Tennessee’s art history; Awakening the Spirits, the first-ever retrospective devoted to the work of Bessie Harvey, Facets of Modern and Contemporary Glass, which examined the expanding use of glass as a contemporary art material; Lift: Contemporary Printmaking in the Third Dimension; and New Directions in American Drawing. He previously served as curator of collections and exhibitions at the Columbus Museum (Georgia), and is active as a guest curator, juror, lecturer, and writer. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Tennessee, his Master of Arts in Art History and Museum Studies from Case Western Reserve University, and was awarded back-to-back Cleveland Museum of Art Fellowships.

Stephen Wicks

BARBARA W. AND BERNARD E. BERNSTEIN CURATOR

Clark Gillespie | COLLECTION MANAGER

Clark Gillespie joined the Knoxville Museum of Art full time in August 2007. Gillespie manages the community gallery, an exhibition space dedicated to strengthening bonds and building awareness for non-profit arts and cultural organizations in East Tennessee. He coordinates all aspects of exhibition design and installation. He currently fulfills the duties of the museum registrar maintaining the care and upkeep of the museum collection and archives. While earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts and a minor in Art History from the University of Tennessee, Gillespie helped found Three Flights Up gallery in downtown Knoxville.

Clark Gillespie

COLLECTION MANAGER

Natalie McLaurin | Exhibitions Manager

Natalie McLaurin started as the KMA Exhibitions Manager in January 2020. She grew up in Knoxville, and received a Bachelors in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and an MFA from University of New Orleans. She has worked as an art preparator at The Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum, The Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and numerous galleries. She was the Gallery Director at Antenna in New Orleans from 2012-2019. She also maintains active studio and curatorial practices.

Natalie McLaurin

EXHIBITIONS MANAGER

Kelsie Conley | Assistant Curator

Kelsie Conley is Assistant Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art. She is a curator and writer whose practice is shaped by an enduring commitment to artists through defiant advocacy for diverse, experimental, and evolving practices in the American South. Her writing has appeared in Burnaway. She is also the cofounder and director of Bad Water, a project space active since 2022 and once described by a viewer as a “soul-project.” She holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking, with a minor in Art History, from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Kelsie Conley

ASSISTANT CURATOR

Kyle Cottier | Preparator

Kyle Cottier

PREPARATOR

Development

Richard DeLoof | Director of Development

Richard DeLoof joined the Knoxville Museum of Art in January 2026 and brings over 30 years of experience in philanthropic management. He recently served as the Director of Development for Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Over his career, DeLoof has raised funds and provided counsel for a broad range of non-profit organizations, including the educational, religious, health care, and social services sectors. As a consummate relationship builder, he is a strong proponent of donor-centered fundraising. DeLoof holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Aquinas College.

Richard DeLoof

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Margo Clark | Director of Membership and Grants

Margo Clark joined the museum in 2000 bringing with her more than 11 years experience in non-profit membership, special events, and fundraising. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee. During her career at KMA, Clark has written numerous successful federal, state and local grants, including four recent NEA grants. She also serves as a visual arts panelist for the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Margo Clark

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP AND GRANTS

Christy Smith | Assistant Director of Development

Christy joined the Knoxville Museum of Art in 2025, bringing with her a deep passion for community service cultivated since moving to Knoxville in 2018. Her commitment is evident through previous non-profit roles at Ijams Nature Center, Bridge Refugee Services, and Amvets Thrift Stores. Christy has also actively volunteered her time with organizations such as Zoo Knoxville, Mobile Meals, Real Good Kitchen, Ijams, and Beardsley Farm. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Appalachian State University and has attended the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Christy Smith

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Taylor Lolley | Director of Fundraising Events

Taylor Lolley joined the KMA in 2022. She comes to the museum with over 5 years in event management and design experience. Taylor worked in Event Design Sales for All Occasions Party Rentals and completed internships with the City of Knoxville Special Events Office, The Tennessee Smokies, Tennessee Athletic Event Management, and Prater Day Music Booking Agency. Taylor has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and holds certification as an event professional (CERP).

Taylor Lolley

DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Lyndsey Ullom | Development Coordinator

Lyndsey Ullom is a Knoxville native, artist, musician, and former public-school teacher of 16 years with Knox County Schools. Lyndsey joined the Development team in 2024 and has enjoyed the world of nonprofit support and fundraising. Lyndsey brings with her a passion for sharing art with the community and celebrating the stories of those in our region.

Lyndsey Ullom

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Madison Casey | Design & Communications Coordinator

Madison Casey serves as the Design and Communications Coordinator for the KMA, joining the team in early 2026. An artist and music historian at heart, she brings a storyteller’s sensibility to her work, blending creativity with a deep appreciation for cultural narratives. With 18 years of experience in marketing and communications, Madison has cultivated a career rooted in meaningful connection and community engagement. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she studied Communications, and she continues to draw on that foundation to craft compelling, thoughtful messaging in all that she does.

Madison Casey

DESIGN & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Education

DeLena Feliciano | Director of Education

DeLena Feliciano has a BFA in 2D Studio Art, holds certification with The National Association for Interpretation as a Certified Interpretive Guide, and is a 2020 cohort of the SEMC Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI). Feliciano began at the KMA as a Front Desk Volunteer in 2005. After working as a museum shop associate at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta she returned to Knoxville in 2008 and worked as a KMA Visitor Services Representative. Feliciano was promoted to Visitor Services Manager and Volunteer Coordinator serving in that position from 2012-2018, at which time she was hired as the Assistant Director of Education. She was promoted to Director of Education in 2025. Feliciano serves the KMA and the community on various councils, including the KMA Volunteer Advisory Council, the KMA Education Committee, the KMA Art House Committee, the Knox Area Museum Educators Roundtable, and the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) Conference 2025 local planning committee. Feliciano was selected as the Museum Educator of the Year 2024 for the Tennessee Art Education Association (TAEA) and serves on the TAEA Board.

DeLena Feliciano

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Lilly Saywitz | Assistant Director of Education & School Programs

Lilly Saywitz joined the museum in March, 2022 as the Summer Art Academy Coordinator moved to the position of Education Associate in September 2024. She received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University. In 2022, Saywitz was the Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at Sewanee: The University of the South. She has also lectured in Drawing and Art History at Roane State Community College and Pellissippi State Community College. Saywitz has been very grateful to be invited to The University of Wisconsin Stout, Maryville College, and Boston University as guest lecturer. Outside of her education background, Saywitz is a practicing artist in the Knoxville community who has shown extensively across Tennessee and the East Coast. She has participated in artist residencies such as AIR Zaratan in Lisbon, Portugal in 2021 and The Anderson Ranch Center in Snowmass, Colorado in 2023.

Lilly Saywitz

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Jonathan Hash | Visitor Services Manager

Jonathan Hash began working at the museum in 2008 as a Visitor Services Representative, after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art, concentrating his studies in watercolor painting. In 2010 he became the Lead Visitor Services Representative/VSR Coordinator, where he oversaw Visitor Services Representatives and attendance data entry. Needing more time in his personal life and to bring his artistic endeavors to fruition, he stepped down from that role a year later. He stayed on at the museum as a Visitor Services Representative. Within a couple of years he began an art business called “Mapping of Jon,” spanning projects in watercolor painting and digital artwork. In 2014, with things in order, he became a full-time staff member at the museum and was also juried into the Knoxville Watercolor Society, where he is an active member. In 2015, he became the Visitor Services Assistant Manager.

Jonathan Hash

VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER

Danielle Mann | Volunteer Program Manager

Danielle Mann comes to the KMA with a rich and varied history of philanthropic experiences from Heifer International and United Way to the Cummer Museum of Art in Jacksonville, Florida. She began volunteering with Summer Art Academy in 2012 and then graduated to the Docent Program. In more recent years she has acted as the Teacher Liaison for the docents confirming tours, finding out the curriculum requests from teachers and sharing those with the docents to enhance the tour focus, and helping get docents signed up for tours. She has also supported Assistant Director of Education DeLena Feliciano with tour data entry and records for the past 3 years. She serves as the Staff Liaison for the Volunteer Advisory Council and has previously been a board member for the Meridian Museum of Art. She has a BA from the University of North Florida.

Danielle Mann

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MANAGER

Sean Burke | Education Program Coordinator

Sean Burke first joined the KMA as a front desk volunteer in 2021, became a Visitor Services Representative in 2024 and was hired as the Education Program Coordinator in 2025. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2023 with a BS in Museum Accessibility as a part of the self-directed College Scholars Major. Sean has worked on the KMA’s Deaf Night program since it was first conceived in 2022 and has worked closely with staff on increasing the KMA’s accessibility to people with disabilities as both a volunteer and staff member. During his time at the University of Tennessee he worked with the McClung Museum as both an intern and as a member of the McClung Student Advisory Board, serving as the Chair of the Board from 2021 to 2023. His work on engaging both college students and people with disabilities in museums has been recognized in Student Work in Museums (SWIM) at the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Annual Meetings in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Sean Burke

EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Operations

Joyce Jones | Director of Finance and Operations

Joyce Jones has been on staff at the museum since 1995. She began her tenure as an accounting assistant and was promoted to current position of director of finance in 2003. Prior to joining the museum, she worked in several accounting positions in the manufacturing sector.

Joyce Jones

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Selena Williford | Facility Rental Coordinator

Selena Williford first joined the KMA team as an intern for the education department in the spring of 2020. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Women’s Studies, she took on a more permanent role as a Visitor Services Representative. During her time as a VSR, Selena was completely fascinated by the array of special events and facility rentals at the museum. In July 2022, she was promoted to her current position as Facility Rental Coordinator.

Selena Williford

FACILITY RENTAL COORDINATOR

Brandon Gallagher | Facility Manager

Brandon Gallagher joined the KMA staff as Facility Manager in March of 2022. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, he relocated to Knoxville in 2011. Prior to joining the museum, Brandon worked in multifamily facilities maintenance since 2006.

Brandon Gallagher

FACILITY MANAGER

Travis Solomon | Security Manager

Travis Solomon graduated from Fulton High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has been working for the KMA in a facilities position since 1996.

Travis Solomon

SECURITY MANAGER

Vicki Wyrick | Museum Shop Manager

Vicki Wyrick joined the KMA staff as the Museum Shop Manager in October of 2022. Vicki was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been an artist her entire life. She had a successful career as a metal artist exhibiting at fine arts festivals throughout the United States. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in Education.

Vicki Wyrick

MUSEUM SHOP MANAGER

Brian Clay | Soundscapes Coordinator

Brian joined the Knoxville Museum of Art as the new coordinator of “Alive After Five” in June of 2021. He brings a love of the arts and a wealth of experience in performing arts. Brian is an accomplished jazz pianist and a gifted vocalist. Brian has seven recording projects to his credit and has shared performance stages with incredible contemporary jazz artists including Kirk Whalum, George Duke, David Sanborn, and Stanley Clark.

Brian is also a veteran radio broadcaster with 25 plus years of experience. He began his radio career in the Atlanta radio market as an air-personality. He has since created a weekly syndicated radio program called “JAZZSPIRATIONS with BRIAN CLAY” which airs on several stations across the country.

Brian was honored to receive the 2019 Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission of Knoxville Arts Award. He is a two-time Gospel Choice Award Winner. In 2018, Brian placed 5th in the “Lee Ritenour International Piano competition. He is a major influencer in Knoxville’s music scene performing in venues in Knoxville and across the southeast.

One of Brian’s accomplishments he is most proud of is the creation of “The Piano Project of Knoxville.” The Piano Project of Knoxville is a public art and music initiative that commissions visual artists to decorated pianos, and the pianos are placed in public spaces around the city for community engagement.