Born in Peru to Italian parents, Gabriella De Ferrari has held administrative and curatorial positions at major museums and art organizations. At the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, she was curator of exhibitions before becoming the Director of the Institute in 1975. She was Assistant Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs at the Fogg Museum and the Busch-Reisinger Museum. Her novel A Cloud on Sand received a Barnes and Noble Discover Award. Gringa Latina, her memoir about her experience living in two cultures, was published in 1994. She is the author of many short stories and is currently working on a novel about New York. She is a contributing editor for Travel and Leisure, and also writes for BOMB, The New York Times, and Vanity Fair. She has served on the Boards of Trustees and on the advisory committees of many leading institutions, including Colby College, City University Graduate Center Foundation, Harvard University Museum, The New School, and the Wadsworth Atheneum. She was the philanthropic advisor to the chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corporation. De Ferrari was awarded The New School Medal for Distinguished Service, and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Colby College. She joined the PEN America Board in 2015.
