Photography & Visual Culture Leader; Executive Director of Aperture; Former Curator at Museum of Modern Art

New York, NY, USA
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Sarah Meister Biography

Sarah Meister is the executive director of Aperture, a nonprofit publisher and arts organization focused on advancing the medium of photography. Meister assumed this role after more than 25 years at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where she served as a curator in the Department of Photography. Her curatorial work at the museum included exhibitions such as "Fotoclubismo: Brazilian Modernist Photography," "Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures," and "Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction," as well as publications on artists including Frances Benjamin Johnston, Josef Albers, Bill Brandt, and Gordon Parks.

At Aperture, Meister has led strategic initiatives to strengthen the organization's legacy and global reach, including efforts to secure a permanent home for Aperture in Manhattan and overseeing the release of new editions of works such as Robert Frank’s "The Americans." She curated the touring exhibition "Carrie Mae Weems: The Heart of the Matter," accompanied by an Aperture publication, and has supported educational and outreach programs, including founding and hosting the Aperture PhotoBook Club. Meister’s commitment to scholarship and public engagement is reflected in her role as the inaugural instructor for the online course "Seeing Through Photographs" and as co-director of the August Sander Project, a research initiative between the Museum of Modern Art and Columbia University.

Meister is recognized as a curator and voice in the photography and art communities, known for her leadership, scholarship, and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her public speaking engagements, including appearances at events such as Paris Photo and the Aspen Ideas Festival, highlight her expertise in photography and visual culture. Meister’s work at Aperture centers on using photography to promote understanding and justice, emphasizing the medium’s relevance in contemporary culture.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/18/2025.

Sarah Meister Videos

Panel on Aperture Portfolio Prize Jury | Sarah Meister

Panel on Aperture Portfolio Prize Jury | Sarah Meister

Jury Duty: A Look Inside the Aperture Portfolio Prize Sarah Meister, Executive Director, Aperture, moderates this conversation among jurors,...

PhotoBook Club on Pictures for Charis | Sarah Meister

PhotoBook Club on Pictures for Charis | Sarah Meister

“Pictures for Charis” offers a groundbreaking new work by artist Kelli Connell, synthesizing text and image, while raising vital questions about...

LIVE Q&A with MoMA Photography Curator Sarah Meister (May 23)

LIVE Q&A with MoMA Photography Curator Sarah Meister (May 23)

In celebration of National Photography Month, tune in for MoMA’s May Live Q&A with Photography Curator Sarah Meister. Join Sarah for a special tour...

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  • What topics does Sarah Meister speak about?

    Sarah Meister is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Author, Leadership, Non-Profit, Photography
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Sarah Meister is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sarah Meister for your event is available upon request. Sarah Meister generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Stacy Pearsall, Amy Herman, Lorna Simpson, Amanda Lindhout and Tina Knowles. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sarah Meister for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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