Curator & Director of Art Practices

Viviane Le Courtois was born in France in 1969. She moved to the United States in 1994 and currently lives in Denver, Colorado. Since 1989, she has created process-based, conceptual, and participatory artwork that connects art to everyday life. Her installations, performances, sculptures, videos, and prints often explore social and environmental issues. Her work has taken her to over 41 countries, including a sculptural performance involving 221 pairs of shoes. In 2004, she invented a non-toxic etching process using kombucha.

Viviane received a Diplôme National Supérieur d'Expression Plastique (MFA) from the Ecole Pilote Internationale d’Art et de Recherches in Nice, France in 1992. After extensive travels in Asia and a fellowship from the Korea Foundation, she moved to the United States and completed an MA in Art History at the University of Denver in 2000. She was awarded a Colorado Mastermind in Visual Arts in 2009, participated in a residency at RedLine Denver from 2008 to 2011, and served as Creative in Residence at the Denver Art Museum in 2016. Her work has been exhibited internationally and across the United States, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, RedLine, Denver Botanic Gardens, Biennial of the Americas, and Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. She also created a permanent ceramic installation at Meow Wolf Denver in 2021.

In addition to her studio practice, Viviane is an educator, curator, and arts organizer. She has taught at the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Aurora. She co-founded Processus, the institute of art and life, in 2014. Her curatorial experience began at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and expanded through volunteer and leadership roles at MCA Denver, the Denver Art Museum, and RedLine, where she chaired the exhibition committee and curated Artist Footprints for the Biennale of the Americas.

Viviane joined DAVA in 2000 as a guest artist and quickly became Open Studio Coordinator. From 2001 to 2021, she managed the Open Studio program, gallery exhibitions, and intern and volunteer programs. She played a key role in expanding the Open Studio and developing the ceramic studio addition. In 2022, she took over and expanded the high school program. She has curated more than 100 exhibitions at DAVA and inspired thousands of students, artists, and interns. Her global perspective and commitment to social, environmental, and health-related themes have deeply influenced DAVA’s programming for more than 25 years. She currently serves as Curator and Director of Art Practices and is piloting a new residency program.

Outside of her art practice, Viviane enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and traveling. She is fluent in French and English and conversational in Spanish.

Website:www.vivianelecourtois.com
Instagram: @lecourtoisviviane