Photograph of artist. Part of breast cancer art project, visually articulating an experience where a breast cancer patient described
their cancer as a "fog that they are lost in." Photograph by Mallory Shotwell.
Mallory Shotwell is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and arts leader whose work explores care, resilience, and the social conditions that shape contemporary life. She is the Gallery Director at LaFontsee Gallery, where she guides curatorial strategy, exhibition development, and artist relations across two locations. Her work connects regional practice with broader national conversations and emphasizes thoughtful presentation, collaboration, and public engagement.
Before joining LaFontsee, Shotwell founded and directed Cultivate, an artist-run arts organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under her leadership, Cultivate supported nearly ten thousand students and one thousand artists through exhibitions, workshops, and community partnerships. Her curatorial and artistic practices both center the creation of spaces where dialogue, reflection, and shared experience can unfold.
Her professional background spans curatorial leadership, arts education, and program design. She has curated exhibitions such as It Takes a Village and Embodied Homescapes, which highlight interdisciplinary collaboration and invite audiences to consider the emotional and cultural dimensions of contemporary art. As an educator, she has developed arts curricula for all ages and designed workshops that address creative resilience, cultural literacy, and storytelling.
Shotwell is committed to advancing contemporary art as a catalyst for connection and cultural understanding. She continues to expand her independent curatorial practice and seeks opportunities that allow her to shape exhibitions, public programs, and research-driven projects within institutions committed to evolving conversations in contemporary art.
