Art and Design alum carves out a museum career

Judson Browning ’16 is a prime example of how the Saint Michael’s College’s Art and Design program can open many post-graduate opportunities. Browning now works at The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia as the Exhibitions Manager. He recently shared his story and offered some advice on how to make the most of your experience as a Saint Michael’s art student.

Judson Browning ’16 (Photo by Carlos Avendaño, Visual Media Producer at the Fabric Workshop & Museum)

While at Saint Michael’s, Browning was an Art and Design major, with a double minor in Philosophy and Art History. Browning said he was fully immersed in the art program and worked closely with Brian Collier, Professor of Art and Design, as Collier’s gallery assistant.

“I still keep in touch with Brian Collier. He was very influential and supportive to me,” Browning said.

Browning said he benefitted from the tight knit community at Saint Michael’s and said that he finds a lot of the skills he learned at Saint Michael’s to be very applicable in his current career.

Browning’s current career at The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia began in September 2023. He works very closely with different departments throughout the museum and oversees the exhibitions before they are presented.

Browning said, “I oversee the installation process, and also maintain the exhibitions throughout their time in the museum.”

Browning’s own perspective on art comes into play with his current role in the museum. He said, “I’m really interested in mixed media works that incorporate interactivity or that integrate multi-sensory experience.”

He said he enjoyed the collaborative and close community in Saint Michael’s Art and Design building, Sloane.

“Having that tight knit community in Sloane really instilled this level of collaboration. Even if you’re making a solo piece, it’s helpful to have other minds around to bounce ideas off of,” Browning said.

Judson Browning ’16 works remotely with artist Sa’dia Rehman (right, on-screen) to install their final piece for The Fabric Workshop & Museum’s group exhibition ProcessLAB (Photo by Carlos Avendaño, Visual Media Producer at the Fabric Workshop & Museum).

Browning said he believes that to have a formative experience with art, collaboration is necessary, and that art is always better when humans work together. In his own artwork, he said he enjoys experimenting with environmental or social problems, and conveying the severity of those issues through his art. He said Saint Michael’s helped him expand his passion by offering an array of liberal arts courses that gave him insight into how to add more symbolic substance to his artwork. Browning said, “I think the well-rounded array of media-focuses that the art program has are really helpful.”

Browning emphasized that an art student’s post graduate experience is almost never linear but said that is not a negative thing and helped him learn more about himself in the long run. He expressed how there is an immense amount of pressure placed on college students to make a “big move” after they graduate, and he offered insight on how to get some steps out of the way during your time as an undergraduate student. Browning said, “I think one of the most important things Saint Michael’s students can do is to reach out to local art organizations and get involved. Get involved with events on campus!”

Judson Browning ’16 (right) with artist Risa Puno (center) testing the interactive gaming component for her upcoming solo exhibition Group Hug, a culmination of her two-year residency at The Fabric Workshop and Museum (Photo by Carlos Avendaño, Visual Media Producer at the Fabric Workshop & Museum).