Ariel O'Connor-[PA]
Smithsonian American Art Museum Objects Conservator
Washington, DC
Ariel O'Connor is an Objects Conservator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Lunder Conservation Center in Washington, DC. Prior to joining SAAM in 2016, Ariel worked at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Walters Art Museum, Harvard Art Museums, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her research focuses on challenges in contemporary art, along with materials and technology in archaeological Asian art. Her archaeological fieldwork includes seasons at the Aphrodisias Excavations, Mugello Valley/Poggio Colla Archaeological Project, and Gordion Excavations Project. She holds an M.A. and C.A.S. in Art Conservation from Buffalo State College, and a B.F.A. in Dance with a Pre-Med concentration from Tulane University. She is the current OSG Program Chair and a native Houstonian excited to be back in Texas for the 2018 annual meeting.