Jefferson C. Harrison

Jeff Harrison earned his BA in English literature and his PhD in the History of Art from the University of Virginia. Following that, he performed fellowships at the Art History Institute at the University of Amsterdam and the National Gallery of Art.

Jeff had a thirty-three year career at the Chrysler Museum of Art beginning in 1982. During that time, he was named the museum’s Research Curator and later its Curator of European Art. From 1993 on he served as the museum’s Chief Curator and in 2014 received the honor of being named the Irene Leach Curator of American Art.

He published numerous books and articles on the museum’s permanent collection and on 16th Century Netherlandish Art. He was also a vital part of the team leading to the recent expansion and reinstallation of the museum and, at his retirement in 2015, was named Chief Curator Emeritus.