Lauren Jackson Harris is a senior-level arts professional, curator, and cultural strategist based in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 15 years of experience across arts administration, curatorial practice, and creative leadership, she has dedicated her career to supporting artists, building community-centered programs, and expanding access to contemporary art spaces.

With a Master of Arts in Creative Business Leadership from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Art History from Howard University, Lauren’s practice merges strategic leadership with creative innovation. Her career spans institutions, nonprofits, museums, academic settings, and public art initiatives, creating a cohesive body of work that reflects both breadth and intentionality.

Currently serving as Program Director at The Black Embodiments Studio (BES), Lauren leads programming dedicated to discourse around contemporary Black art, developing initiatives that center arts writing, critical scholarship, and thought leadership. Prior to this, she served as Director of Art Sales at SCAD, where she spearheaded the placement of student, faculty, and alumni artwork in private and public collections worldwide while educating emerging artists on the business of art. As a curator, Lauren has organized exhibitions for the Atlanta Contemporary Art, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Atlanta Art Fair, Swan Coach House Gallery, and Zucot Gallery, among many others. She has served on advisory boards and selection panels for Dashboard Atlanta, ArtFields, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and is a contributor to publications like ArtsATL and Sugarcane Magazine. Lauren is also a committed mentor and facilitator, regularly speaking on topics such as curatorial practice, arts entrepreneurship, and equity in cultural spaces.

In 2019, she co-founded Black Women in Visual Art, an organization that connects, cultivates, and supports Black women in the arts. With BWVA, Lauren builds partnerships and develops programs that increase visibility and opportunities for Black women in the arts. Her role as a consultant and cultural producer has included major collaborations such as the Radical Unity Public Art Project, the Atlanta BeltLine, and artist Harmonia Rosales’s studio. Lauren was also the Co-Founder of The Convening: Women in Art Summit, a 2021 conference designed to foster intergenerational dialogue, support networks, and visibility for women-identifying art workers.

As a sought-after speaker, moderator, and facilitator, Lauren has led or participated in discussions with notable organizations, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Papers, Living Walls Atlanta, ArtTable, and Georgians for the Arts. Her programs and talks explore the intersections of race, gender, art, advocacy, and institutional change. She recently served as Co-Chair of the Beltline Public Art Advisory Council and is currently a member of the Dashboard Board of Directors.

As an active art advocate, Harris curates impactful exhibitions, produces innovative art-related projects and programs, while amplifying Black women's contributions to the art world.