A 2024 graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts,
Herrell’s career reflects a profound
commitment to art and education.

Jaime T. Herrell (Cherokee Nation) is an independent curator and museum specialist living and working between Santa Fe and Galisteo, New Mexico. Her work grows through close collaboration with artists and community, rooted in the belief that art holds its greatest power when relationships lead the way.

Herrell is the Director of Duende Gallery, located in the historic former dance hall at the heart of Galisteo. The gallery was founded by her partner in life, artist Robert King (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), and together they shape its exhibitions and public programs around land, story, and gathering. She also serves as Gallery Manager for Cara Romero Studio + Gallery, supporting artist representation and programming from Santa Fe to national and international platforms.

In Santa Fe, Herrell is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA), where she is helping steward organizational stability, accountability, and deeper alignment with community needs.

Her professional background includes roles with the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, she continues to work closely with both emerging and established artists across the United States — ensuring their ideas and lived experiences shape how exhibitions are conceived and presented.

Herrell is currently developing multiple upcoming exhibitions and writing projects focused on material intelligence, Indigenous futurity, and the ways art sustains cultural memory. Her approach is guided by a simple principle: when artists and community are centered, the work resonates far beyond the gallery walls.