Ryan Shafer

As Editor in Chief, Shafer leads an editorial team that ensures consistent, clear, and compelling verbal communications for the Wexner Center with an eye to balancing artist and curatorial intent with a passion for engaging all audiences. Serving as Assistant and Associate Editor (2000–6), then returning as Publications Editor (2013–present), Shafer has worked on almost every kind of print and digital collateral the center produces—from writing three-word campaign taglines to editing substantial exhibition catalogues. In addition to working at the Wex, Shafer was the Editor and Publications Manager for Aspen Art Museum (2010–13) and a Senior Writer for the branding agency Ologie (2006–9). He has edited monographs featuring the work of Mark Bradford, Slater Bradley, Simon Denny, Mark Grotjahn, Sarah Oppenheimer, Lorna Simpson, Monika Sosnowska, Mickalene Thomas, Amelie von Wulffen, and Haegue Yang, as well as catalogues for group shows including The Anxiety of Photography and Vanishing Point. He has edited film retrospective brochures for such directors as Oliver Assayas, Guy Maddin, and Julia Reichert and an award-winning website exploring the work of choreographer William Forsythe. Shafer has a BA degree from Denison University (philosophy of art) and an MA from Ohio State (English literature and critical theory).