welcome ivan bujan
Meet RAC’s new Gallery Director
RAC’s new Gallery Director
Photo by Jazmine Harris
“For me, art has always been both a source of inspiration and a kind of refuge—it opens up ways of feeling and learning that seem inaccessible through rationality or facts alone, especially in moments when I’m searching for relief, guidance, or meaning. And yet, those encounters often feel strangely familiar, like something I’ve known all along. I’m excited to bring that sensibility to Riverside.” - Ivan Bujan
After a very competitive search, we are thrilled to announce that Ivan Bujan (pronounced “e-vanh”) joins RAC as its next Gallery Director succeeding Joanne Aono who has held the position since 2021 and who will remain on RAC’s Exhibitions Committee.
“I am leaving the position of Gallery Director confidently in the hands of Ivan Bujan,” states Joanne Aono. “With his experience, scholarship, and creative energy, he brings innovative pathways to the Riverside Arts Center’s respected exhibition program.” Anne Harris, Chair of RAC’s Exhibitions Committee adds, “Ivan brings a remarkable depth of experience and a fresh perspective to our exhibition program.”
Ivan Bujan is a researcher, educator, and curator with a background in gender and sexuality studies, and performance studies. His curatorial vision positions contemporary art and archival practice as critical tools for addressing social justice and shaping more livable and sustainable futures for those disproportionately affected by systems of power. Bujan’s projects—including exhibitions, public programs, workshops, and research initiatives—bring together artists, activists, and scholars to create collaborative platforms that examine how art and scholarship can open conversations about care, community, and collective responsibility. He has curated exhibitions at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art at Washington University in St. Louis, and his writing has appeared in journals such as Sexualities, ASAP/J, and Theatre Journal. He currently teaches at DePaul University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he mentors emerging artists and scholars at the intersection of performance, visual culture, and social practice. Bujan holds a PhD from Northwestern University, a MA from New York University, and a MA from Central European University.
“Working with the RAC team, I’m really looking forward to opening a new chapter for the center and exploring what can happen when we think of art as both a practice and a space for education, imagination, and even pleasure. I’m especially excited to build on RAC’s decades of impactful work that have made it such an important part of the Chicagoland cultural landscape, while reorienting it in response to the needs and challenges of our time. At the same time, I want to deepen our connection with local communities—making sure people feel not just welcomed but truly invited to take part as collaborators and co-creators in what comes next. I hope this next phase feels shared, with art leading us into directions we may not fully predict, but can start to imagine together.” – Ivan Bujan
Melissa Potter, RAC’s newest board member adds, “Ivan’s experience across diverse arts communities, combined with his passion for local community building, will help continue the rigor that RAC’s exhibition programs are known for. We’re excited to work with him.”
Please join us in welcoming Ivan to our community! Ivan begins at RAC on August 10, 2026.