In addition to being an artist and arts writer, alumnus Jacob O’Kelley (B.F.A. ’16) is widely known for his acute curatorial eye for emerging artists and pulse on Atlanta’s vibrant arts scene. Over the years, he has worked and championed dozens of young emerging artists. Today, Jacob serves as Artistic Director at the Swan Coach House Gallery, guest curates special projects, and most recently mounted a large group show in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
Jacob O’Kelley is an Atlanta-based arts administrator and curator. He received his B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from Georgia State University. In 2018, he co-founded ShowerHaus Gallery. From 2021-2022, Jacob managed MINT Gallery, a local arts non-profit focused on emerging artists in Atlanta. As of 2023, he is the Artistic Director at Swan Coach House Gallery. He is also a contributor for Burnaway and Art Papers.
His interests and ambitions lie in uplifting artists, primarily in the Southern United States. He focuses on the development of artists by dedicating time and energy - providing space for experimental work and exploratory research at the same time being adaptable to artists’ needs. Most recently, he curated Local Stories 2023-24 for A&E Atlanta, a local billboard project focused on the history of Downtown Atlanta, Offerings, also in Downtown Atlanta, and Interconnect at Echo Contemporary in Atlanta
(Lead image: Jacob O'Kelley with gallery partner Abigail Justman for ShowerHaus)
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