Helen Trompeteler is a curator and writer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has eighteen years museum experience and is a specialist in photography and lens-based arts. Her curatorial practice is centered on advocating for the civic role of collections and telling new narratives about underrepresented histories.
Helen began her career at the National Portrait Gallery, London (2002-2016), where she curated and co-curated over twenty exhibitions. These included Man Ray Portraits (2013), Snowdon: A Life in View (2014), and Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon (2016). Most recently, Helen was Senior Curator of Photographs at the Royal Collection (2016-20), where she was founding project manager and lead curator of Prince Albert: His Life and Legacy (2017-20).
Alongside roles with major institutions, Helen enjoys a diverse independent practice, writing regularly for international publications. Independent roles include board membership of Four Corners (2017-present), the Museums Association Transformers leadership program (2018-19), and the Josef Breitenbach Research Fellowship at the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona (2016).
Photograph: Marion Post Wolcott, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1941. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [LC-USF34-057833-D]