Meet Muyang Chen, a fourth-year Northwestern University student majoring in Anthropology and Art History. With academic interests rooted in modern and contemporary art — especially queer art and its political, affective, and material strategies — Muyang brings a critically engaged approach to understanding how artworks operate within (and push against) institutional contexts. As a curatorial intern at The Block Museum, she is exploring these questions firsthand by working closely with the collection and contributing to research.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and your field of study?

I’m a fourth-year undergraduate student from Beijing, China, double-majoring in Anthropology and Art History. My academic interests center on modern and contemporary art, with a particular focus on queer art and its political, affective, and material strategies. I’m also interested in institutional power and responsibility, as well as how audiences engage with art across contexts.

What particularly interests you about learning and researching within the context of a campus art museum?

I’m interested in the Block as a space of dialogue that connects the Evanston community and the Northwestern student body. I’m especially drawn to the Block’s collection as an invaluable teaching resource that fosters collaborative, cross-disciplinary learning. It creates a welcoming environment where students can bring their own perspectives and backgrounds into conversation, while sharing in the excitement of inquiry.

What drew you to The Block Museum? What are you looking forward to working on?

Last spring, I took Museum Seminar: Horror Modernism, taught by Professor Jessy Bell in collaboration with the Block, where we had the opportunity to engage with works from the Block’s collection on a weekly basis and research them through the lens of horror. The class culminated in a mini-exhibition featuring selected works alongside student-written labels. That experience gave me firsthand insight into how curatorial research, interpretation, and display come together. I’m looking forward to continuing my engagement with the Block’s collection, conducting research on objects, and thinking about the possibility of fostering dialogue across different themes and perspectives.

What museum exhibitions or programs (outside The Block) have inspired you lately?

This September, I visited Scott Burton: Shape Shift at Wrightwood 659. I was drawn to the generosity and democracy embedded in Burton’s sculptural furniture, which centers the relationship between artwork and its public as reciprocal and participatory. The exhibition inspired me to think more deeply about how form and function can coexist, and how artworks can invite care, interaction, and reimagined social dynamics.

Is there anything upcoming at the Block Museum or Northwestern you are particularly excited about?

I’m excited for the upcoming screening of SOLO SUNNY at Block Cinema. I want to further explore Block Cinema as a learning resource that foregrounds perspectives often missing from mainstream screens. I look forward to attending more screenings throughout the year and expanding my understanding of the moving image by engaging with the diverse range of works it features.

How do you see your internship connecting to your future academic or career goals?

With an interest in pursuing a career in the art world, I see this internship as an opportunity to learn what museum work involves on a day-to-day basis while developing practical skills such as art handling and using The Museum System (TMS). This internship also allows me to reflect on broader questions around institutional responsibility and audience engagement, which are key research interests I hope to further explore in graduate study. Having this concrete experience within a museum setting deepens my understanding of how theory and practice intersect.

Can you share a favorite artwork or object you’ve encountered so far in The Block’s collection?

I’m very interested in “Untitled” (For Parkett) (1994) by Félix González-Torres. It is a billboard work that is only complete upon installation to a surface, and is intended to be installed just once. I’m fascinated by how the work holds a tension between openness to interpretation and refusal to disclose—inviting meaning while resisting full access. Its ephemeral materiality also raises questions that challenge traditional notions of stewardship, preservation, and the role of the audience.

Outside of academics and work, what hobbies or passions energize you?

I enjoy theatre, both in the audience seat and on stage. I’m drawn to it as a space for creative expression and collaboration. I also love comics and graphic novels. I’m interested in all sorts of storytelling and the different ways narratives can unfold across mediums.

How do you think student voices can shape the museum experience at Northwestern?

Earlier this fall, I worked with curatorial intern Aja Frazier and curator Essi Rönkkö to help compile the potential artist list for this year’s student acquisition. I’m excited to learn more about the BMSA’s perspectives, as well as how this process incorporates student voices and traces themes that resonate across campus. I appreciate how student engagement brings a sense of responsiveness and spontaneity to the museum’s curatorial practice, helping keep the institution in active and ongoing dialogue with the student body.