Rebecca Basciano Appointed as New Chief Curator

The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rebecca Basciano as the new Chief Curator. Having been with the gallery for the past 10 years, Basciano takes the helm in this leadership position bringing exhibition experience, project management, and a rich background in Canadian art. 

Basciano’s recent curatorial projects have integrated strategies of inclusion and diversity, offered counter-narratives, and examined the intersection of historical and contemporary art. She moves into this role after an exciting year where two of her nationally touring exhibitions received much deserved recognition, elevating the work of the OAG past our city boundaries. Basciano’s interest in promoting the work of women artists and pluralistic dialogues can be seen in A Family Palette and ᓯᑯ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᓯᓯᒪᔪᖅ | Dark Ice, which are on tour through 2025. 

Basciano’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation aligns seamlessly with OAG’s mission to be a vibrant cultural hub, deeply rooted in fueling the love of art and artists. Her vision for the OAG promises to strengthen relationships with diverse communities and artists from the Ottawa-Gatineau region to create meaningful and impactful programming grounded in research, relationships, and accessibility. 

With our commitment to growing careers in the arts, Basciano’s appointment sees Meghan Ho shifting into a curatorial role as Assistant Curator, where her expertise will lend to innovative curatorial projects. Rachelle Dickenson will continue to forge strong relationships with artists and communities in the position of Senior Curator, where her creativity, criticality, and articulation of our objectives continues to be realized through exhibition such as ‘83 til infinity. 

In the spirit of collaboration and growth, we look forward to the continued support of our community as we embark on this exciting journey. Together, we will continue to shape the OAG as a cultural pillar that is rooted, diverse and globally engaged. 

“This is an exciting time for the OAG. Under the leadership of this strong curatorial team, the gallery will expand its innovative curatorial practices and the communities it serves while strengthening culture development in the city of Ottawa and across Canada.”- Alexandra Badzak, Director and CEO