CURATORS + JURORS

Each year, two visual arts professionals are chosen to jury, curate, and commission selected artwork for CONTACT. The collaboration and exchange between these independent curators creates a contact dynamic that is essential to the development of the exhibit.

KEOLA NAKAʻAHIKI RAPOZO is the creative director and co-founder of FITTED, the iconic Hawaiian streetwear brand. With strong support from the local community, FITTED has established itself as a world renowned and respected brand, fusing Rapozo’s interests in aloha wear, street culture, and contemporary art. His diverse design resume spans multiple industries — streetwear, fashion, surf/skate, footwear, restaurants, development and interior design — and includes large branding projects with Hawaiian Airlines, POW! WOW! Hawaii, and Polynesian Voyaging Society. Rapozo is inspired by the rich Hawaiian culture that he embraces and fuses it into everything he designs.

MICHAEL ROOKS has served the High Museum as the Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art in since 2010. He was appointed Commissioner and co-curator of the U.S. Pavilion at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia in 2010. Prior to joining the High Museum, Mr. Rooks held curator positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Contemporary Museum Honolulu, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.  As curator at The Contemporary Museum Honolulu, Rooks curated more than 15 exhibitions including projects by Michael Lin, Paul Morrison, and Yoshitomo Nara.