Anne Labovitz, Artist, Educator & Arts Activist, joins Board of Directors of PartnersGlobal

  March 16, 2023

PartnersGlobal is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Labovitz to its Board of Directors. Labovitz brings her experience using art to foster interconnectedness and cross-cultural dialogue to create ambitious works that celebrate humanity and caring. 

“Anne Labovitz’s creative and collaborative approach to breaking down barriers and fostering connection through art aligns with Partners’ commitment to building authentic partnerships and fostering inclusivity.” said Board Chair, Chris Mitchell. “We look forward to building on Anne’s innovative fusion of artistic expression and bridgebuilding to elevate the important role that the arts play in peacebuilding and democratic participation,” added Co-Executive Director, Roselie Vasquez-Yetter. 

Labovitz creates contemporary artworks that address the ways in which political, social, and cultural platforms can facilitate personal acts of care. Conversation and human interaction are integral parts of her creative process, allowing her to explore the blurred boundaries between gallery exhibition and social practice. She employs color, texture, and unique installation practices to create spaces for contemplation and community-building. 

For years, Labovitz has examined the importance of human connection and its visual embodiment, culminating in 122 Conversations: Person to Person, Art Beyond Borders. The monumental works, currently installed at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, comprised not only of seventy-eight scrolls and sixty recorded interviews but also included the active participation of six city mayors and 1500 volunteers. Labovitz was also a participant in the initial cohort of the Woke Coach and a founding member of Racial Equity Committee at the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). Her current long-term social practice project is the I Love You Institute, an artist-led site-specific project urgently working with communities to address today’s world creatively. It combines artmaking, social justice, radical kindness, and relational listening to normalize, saying “I Love You” as an alternative to division and conflict.  

More recently, Labovitz has lent her expertise and leadership as a steering committee member for Turn Up the Turn Out, a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting voter engagement and awareness.  

Labovitz earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and art from Hamline University in St. Paul, followed by a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Plymouth. She is an adjunct Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where she continues to inspire and guide the next generation of creative minds.  

“I am honored to serve as a board member, working with PartnersGlobal to help achieve a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic, and prosperous world,” said Labovitz.