An expert in the fields of 19th and 20th century and contemporary American and European art with a specialty in the history of photography, Michelle Lamunière has over thirty-five years of arts administrative, curatorial, auction house, and advisory experience during which she has built relationships with museum curators, private collectors, artists, dealers, and auction specialists, both nationally and internationally.

Beginning in 2001, she served for twelve years as a curator in the Department of Photographs at the Harvard Art Museums, performing a wide range of curatorial duties related to collections, exhibitions, education, programming, and donor development. In 2013 she became the first person to hold the newly created position of Fine Photographs Specialist at Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers where she was responsible for elevating and expanding the auction house’s photography offerings. Most recently, Lamunière was Director of Special Projects and Auction at the Cambridge-based art advisory firm Goodman Taft. In this role, she assisted clients with acquisitions and deaccessions, prepared educational content, and managed special projects, including public art commissions and installations.

Lamunière has curated exhibitions for the Harvard Art Museums; the Addison Gallery of American Art; Harvard’s Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts; and Salve Regina University. In 2001 she organized the exhibition “You Look Beautiful Like That: The Portrait Photographs of Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibé,” which traveled to several venues, including the National Portrait Gallery in London. Among her publications is the catalogue for You Look Beautiful Like That, three essays on Harvard University’s Social Museum, a collection of photographs and related material illustrating the international social reform movement at the turn of the twentieth century, and a number of articles and reviews on contemporary photography. She has also presented lectures and gallery talks on topics ranging from the art of Imogen Cunningham and Group f.64 to tips for buying and collecting photography.

Lamunière completed her Ph.D. in Art History at Boston University in 2009; she also holds B.A. (Vassar College) and M.A. (University of Oregon) degrees in art history. In 2015, she earned a Certificate in Appraisal Studies from the Rhode Island School of Design and is compliant with the Universal Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (through January 2027).