Kelly Gellatly is a senior executive with over 25 years’ arts leadership, curatorial, and collection development experience in national, state and university-based art museums with a longstanding contribution to the enrichment and education of diverse communities through art. She has a deep working knowledge of the Australian cultural sector; strong professional and collegiate networks within Australia and internationally, and an ability to aggregate and lead change. She has extensive experience in the design, oversight and delivery of major museum infrastructure projects; a strong fundraising history, including securing corporate sponsorships and major philanthropic grants, and a history of successful international and Australian partnerships.
Kelly is the former Director of the Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne (2013-20) and was Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Victoria from 2003 to 2013. She has also held curatorial positions at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. She has curated more than 50 exhibitions of the work of leading Australian and international artists and has an extensive publishing history on contemporary art, Australian modernism and photographic practice. Kelly has contributed widely to the arts community through her role on Boards and Advisory Committees, in the capacity of judge for a variety of prizes and awards, and as a guest speaker and lecturer.
Kelly is passionate about facilitating and encouraging the broadest possible access to the arts, particularly contemporary practice and to supporting the leadership potential of women in the arts.