Marielle Epstein

Marielle Epstein is the assistant director of Interpretation at the Art Institute of Chicago. In this role, she supports the visitor experience by developing exhibition texts, learning tools, and gallery narratives. Her work is informed by spending time with visitors in the galleries leading tours and in public programs. She believes that each artwork is a springboard for inspiring, challenging, and dynamic conversations which create opportunities for connection and change.

Before joining the Interpretation department, she held curatorial research and educational positions at the Art Institute, as well as at other international and local institutions and organizations. She holds an M.A. in the History of Dress, and a B.A. in the History of Art and French Studies.

Marielle Epstein will be speaking at the Museum Wellness Summit 2026 :

Mindful Looking, Mindful Listening

What do we learn from guided mindfulness experiences in the museum? How do we preserve the magic of mindfulness programs? At the Art Institute of Chicago, a monthly gallery program called Mindful Looking invites visitors to practice mindfulness skills through guided observation, conversation, and meditation. Visitor and facilitator assessments of these experiences become data points as museum staff concurrently develop a mindfulness audio tour, a form of evergreen content that will nourish our visitors in perpetuity.