Lei Chen (’19)
Lei Chen graduated from Hunan University in China as an engineering student, majoring in Polymer Materials. However, having expressed an interest in painting in early childhood, she has always loved the arts. What encouraged her to pursue further study in Arts Administration was an internship she had at the Worldbeat Cultural Center in San Diego, where she worked as a social media assistant. Through this opportunity, Lei was able to witness how art can connect people from different cultural backgrounds.
Working in the Publicity Department and Young Volunteers Association during Lei’s undergraduate years, she was put in charge of publicizing campus events and was also active in public service and volunteer work. Lei participated in a research internship at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which provided her with profound insight into the prospect of 3D printing technology in the art field. She discovered an interest in how technology is opening up a new era for not only updating the materials that create art in a magical way, but also changing conservation practices. With technology rapidly changing and challenging existing traditions, it is of great significance to utilize technology to continue promoting artistic development.
With a background in both art and engineering, Lei has a strong sensibility and good data analysis capability. She has been studying Japanese since high school and always keeps an open mind in respect to diverse cultures. She envisions herself as an outstanding art leader working in esteemed galleries or museums in the near future, and is ready to take on that challenge.
I believe the Arts Administration program at Boston University is one of the best programs that can assist me in achieving my goals. This program provides me with a comprehensive curriculum designed to facilitate professional connections through its strong networking and internship offerings with leading arts organizations. From my perspective, what is expected of an excellent art leader is a combination of aesthetic judgment, space design, commercial operation capabilities, data analysis proficiency, and incorporating the needs of the different parties involved. I hope to apply my prior knowledge in science and technology to bring new perspectives to the art world, and hopefully to future curation and art administrative practices.