LUAG curator honored

Ricardo Viera, director and chief curator of Lehigh University Arts Galleries (LUAG), has been awarded a Latino Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley.

The award celebrates Viera’s 40 years as a professor of art and LUAG’s chief curator, as well as his contributions to the Hispanic community.

The award was presented Oct. 11 at the Hispanic Chamber Gala at DeSales University.

“Ricardo has exemplified leadership, dedication, and professional achievement, serving as an inspiration to our Latino community,” said Daniel Diaz, vice president of the chamber’s diversity councils.

Viera is a noted lecturer, panelist, reviewer of portfolios and consultant for arts and cultural agencies. He holds a diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, a bachelor of fine arts from Tufts University, a master of fine arts from Rhode Island School of Design, and a certificate of museum management from the University of Colorado Museum.

At Lehigh, he has established a visual laboratory program with the LUAG collection and a nationally recognized collection of Latino/Latin American art, photography and video.  He also teaches courses in museum and curatorial studies and independent topics in photography, public art, visual thinking and Latino visual arts and culture in the United States.