Ben Gillespie

Ben Gillespie is the Arlene and Robert Kogod Secretarial Scholar for Oral History at the Archives of American Art.

Stories from this author

Poster with four images and white text on a blue background reading, “Out Front with Us: documenting solidarity.” Black text just below on a white background reads, “January 23rd, 1pm, McEvoy Auditorium.” The four images clockwise from top left are: 1. A

January Programs at the Archives of American Art

What can archives show us about solidarity today? Two programs explore legacies of activism and parenthood in art

Armando Lopez-Bircann wears a cobalt blue bodysuit and skirt on a stage bathed in blue light. They have a neon green, blue, and pink headdress on and face away from the audience, with in front of their shadow. To the right are props including a neon green

Extended Reality Artist Armando Lopez-Bircann Premieres Interactive Performance, 'Extended Bloom,' on June 10

How does art help us envision the future? Registration is open for "Extended Bloom," an interactive performance by artist Armando Lopez-Bircann

Detail of color screenshot of Judith Bernstein in front of one of her paintings wearing a black blouse and light-colored, chunky necklace holding her hand up in a fist as if making a point in conversation.

New Collections: Oral History

Ben Gillespie, the Arlene and Robert Kogod Secretarial Scholar for Oral History, reflects on four oral history interviews recently conducted for the Archives of American Art

Still from a video of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. Smith wears a black shirt with her hair pulled back, gold wire glasses, and long beaded earrings. She is sitting in front of works of art depicting maps of the United States, several in color and one in blac

New Collections: Interviews with Native Artists

Recent interviews conducted with Native artists are now part Archives of American Art's Oral History Collection

Julia Santos Solomon inserting crosses for her In Memoriam installation, Christ Lutheran Church, Woodstock, NY, 2020. Photo by Scott Barfield.

New Collections: Pandemic Oral History Project

During the summer of 2020, the Archives of American Art initiated the Pandemic Oral History Project: 85 interviews with artists, teachers, curators, and administrators. The resulting 30 hours of video are "a significant record of an unprecedented time as it unfolded."