Hilary Zelson

Hilary Zelson is a public artist based in Waltham, MA, with five years of experience implementing site-responsive public art projects. She believes public art is a way to engage an everyday site with new meaning, allow a passerby to make a new discovery, stimulate imaginative and reflective experiences, and give a community creative ownership of a place. In 2017, Hilary installed two public artworks: Winter Blooms, in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA, and Spectacle Butterfly, at the Nashville International Airport, in Nashville, TN. Other notable projects include Rainbow Rooster, at Cambridge Ellis Preschool, in Cambridge, MA, Who Wears Wool, in Fort Point Channel, Boston, MA, and Community Arts Initiative Artist Project: Elemental, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Her work has been featured in, among others, The Boston Globe, Wicked Local Brookline, Metro Boston, Brookline Patch, Nashville Arts Magazine, Boston Magazine, Boston.com, The Jewish Advocate, and The Improper Bostonian.  

In 2016, Hilary began working as the Public Art Administrator for the Cambridge Arts Council, The Official Arts Agency for the City of Cambridge, MA. As the Public Art Administrator, Hilary is responsible for coordinating the logistics, education, and outreach for numerous public art projects. This includes tasks such as the development of a new grant program, building community and school partnerships, and planning for both temporary and permanent public art projects. She also helps manage Cambridge Arts’ Gallery 344 by working with artists, designing invitations, creating press materials, installing and de-installing exhibits, generating text and labels, arranging programs/talks, conducting outreach, and marketing. Additional responsibilities include overseeing the Public Art Registry, fielding public art related inquiries, attending Public Art Commission meetings, taking minutes, and posting relevant content on social media. Prior to working at the Cambridge Arts Council she spent five years working in the Education Department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, leading a range o­f tours and educational programs for children ages 3-18 and families.

Hilary grew up in Mamaroneck, NY, and has been living in the Boston area since 2011. In 2016, she completed her Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, at Tufts University. She also received a Certificate in Museum Studies from Tufts University. She earned a BA at Union College ‘11 in Studio Fine Arts, magna cum laude with departmental honors.

In her spare time, Hilary loves hanging out with her two adorable cats, going to the Cape with her husband, and spending time with family and friends. 

Artist Statement: “Public art is exciting to me because it is accessible to anyone with barriers. Conceptually, my artworks often appear playful or familiar, but underlying are references to national, global, or social concerns. This creates layers of meaning that can be understood by anyone and conjure a variety of experiences. While someone might see my giant monarch (Spectacle Butterfly) as pure whimsy, another might remember that monarch populations are in decline, and yet somebody else might connect their journey through the airport with the monarchs’ epic migration. Due to the highly site-specific nature of my work the final pieces vary greatly in terms of imagery, materials, narrative, and viewer experience. With each piece, my goal is to create a project that exceeds what was imagined, while still making something that feels like the perfect fit for the site. An interdisciplinary arts background and my endless imagination, combined with practical skills honed through my work as the Public Art Administrator for the Cambridge Arts Council, results in high impact, meaningful, and memorable artworks created on time and on budget.”