The Ringling's Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Matthew McLendon will be joining the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia as its director and chief curator starting this coming January.

"We are thrilled to have Matthew join the Fralin," says UVA's Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa. "The university is approaching its third century and with that, the museum is looking forward to an exciting new chapter in its own long history. We believe that Matthew provides the leadership the Fralin needs to embark on this new journey."

Over the past six years, McLendon has worked to revolutionize the modern and contemporary holdings at the Ringling, incorporating works by living visual artists while taking advantage of cultural moments to create a new curatorial style and presence, including the ongoing cross-disciplinary series Art of Our Time. Prior to joining the Ringling, McLendon was the curator of academic initiatives at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, and before that he was at the Tate Modern in London. McLendon holds bachelor's degrees in music and art history from the Florida State Universty and master's and doctoral degrees in the history of art from the Courtauld Institute of Art at the University of London.

"During the past six years, McLendon has built tremendous excitement around modern and contemporary art," says Steven High, executive director of the Ringling, the state art museum of Florida. "His breadth of knowledge as an art historian and dynamic engagement with artists, audiences and donors will be a great benefit to the Fralin Museum. I am sorry to see him leave the Ringling, but I look forward to welcoming him as an art museum director colleague."

Kielbasa also serves as the director of the Virginia Film Festival. Previously, he was the executive director of the Sarasota Film Festival when it was launched in 1999 in Sarasota, FL. He received his bachelor's degree in history from Rollins College and his BFA in theatre from Florida State Universty and his MFA in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor's Training in Sarasota, FL.