BIOGRAPHY
Silvana Foti is the previous executive director of the David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University in Fayetteville North Carolina. Silvana was instrumental in the opening of the gallery along with the founding of the gallery’s advisory board. She holds a MFA in printmaking and ceramic sculpture from the University of Notre Dame with a BFA from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.
As previous gallery director, Silvana curated numerous regional, national and international exhibitions. Select exhibits include Warhol, Chagall, The Story of the Exodus, Picasso: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection, Rodin: Portraits of a Lifetime, Selections from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Collection, and Impressionism to Modernism: Masterworks of Early Photography. The exhibitions were often augmented with lectures, workshops, docent training, and interdisciplinary events. All gallery exhibitions met The American Alliance of Museums’ (AAM) national standards and best practices. In addition she curated and led all aspects of production, including research, budget planning, press, publications, installation and fundraising.
Silvana’s professional background includes more than 20 years' teaching at the college level, serving as department chair for Methodist University’s Department of Art, and program coordinator for visual arts education. She is currently a tenured professor of art at Methodist University.
As an educator, Silvana is uniquely involved in the lives of her students, many of who have become accomplished artists. Her commitment to education, however, extends far beyond the realm of higher education. Silvana has offered extensive service in the area of arts education to state and national organizations. She is skilled in educational leadership, curriculum review and design, and instructional strategy, and has as partnered with many organizations to review, design, and implement competency based art education programs that have earned statewide recognition.
As a practicing artist, Silvana is best known for her expertise in printmaking. In addition to participating in more than 50 artist exhibitions, her former and current art gallery representation encompasses works on display in nine galleries throughout North Carolina, New York City, and Chicago. Her personal works are on display in more than 45 public and private collections.