Petra Slinkard, Chief Curator, The Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles

Petra Slinkard joined PEM in 2018 as the inaugural Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles. In this role she fosters the growth and inclusive spirit of the museum’s significant and diverse collection by developing a vibrant array of exhibitions, installations and programs that celebrate the global reach and impact of fashion and textiles. Slinkard oversees the museum’s Fashion and Design gallery and served as curator or co-curator of Made It: The Women who Revolutionized Fashion, Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love and Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World. With a strong foundation in art history and a commitment to building partnerships, Slinkard spearheaded the expansion of PEM’s fashion and textile program, earning the museum international recognition. The museum strategically expanded its collection to reflect global fashion and textile narratives, by fostering conversations between historic and storied holdings as well as contemporary exhibitions that resonate well beyond the museum walls.

As PEM’s Chief Curator, Slinkard oversees the museum’s Curatorial, Exhibition Planning, and Exhibition Design departments as well as the museum’s award-winning exhibition and publishing programs. She serves on the Executive team, leads two committees for the Board of Trustees, and helps guide the phased implementation of PEM's strategic plan.

Previously, Slinkard worked at the Chicago History Museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. She is an active member of the Costume Society of America (CSA), the Textile Society of America (TSA) and the American Association of Museum Curators (AAMC). Slinkard is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, where she earned a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising, a B.A. in Art History with a concentration in Modern and Contemporary Art, and an M.S. in Fashion/Textile History.

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