Julia De Bierre

Author, Exhibition Curator, and Founder of Galerie Huit Arles

Julia de Bierre is an author and exhibition curator, active between France and Southeast Asia. In 2007,she founded Galerie Huit Arles, a place of inspiration and creativity benefiting from an exceptional setting in the historic centre of Arles. Focused on photography, her exhibitions and installations are independent creations or presented in partnership with, notably, the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Factum Arte, Madrid, The British Journal of Photography and Photo Doc Paris.

More than just a classic art space, the gallery also hosts artist residencies, thematic workshops, and other events to showcase both established and emerging artists.

A member of Gallery Climate Coalition, Julia analyzes the carbon footprint after each exhibition, minimizing transportation and packaging, recycling frames, and producing as much as possible locally. If she participates in fairs or exhibitions outside of Arles – such as The Salon of Documentary Photography in Paris – she exhibits only works that can be carried on public transport.

Crista Dix

Executive Director, Griffin Museum of Photography

Crista Dix is the Executive Director of the Griffin Museum of Photography, assuming that role after two years as the museum’s Associate Director. The Griffin Museum of Photography produces approximately twenty five exhibitions annually in its Winchester and satellite galleries across New England. The museum’s mission and strategic focus looks toward the future of contemporary works and projects revolving around photography. Our exhibition programs aim to bring photography off the walls supporting experiential and immersive projects. In 2024 the museum created new residency programs, scholarships and public art projects as part of the mission to enhance our connection to photography and outreach to our artists, patrons and public.

Before coming to the Griffin Museum in 2020 she spent fifteen years operating her own photography gallery, wall space creative, closing it in 2020 to make the move to New England and the Griffin. Having a career spanning many paths she has a background rooted in science, business and creative art. This well rounded experience provides a solid background for supporting the Griffin’s mission to encourage a broader understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional and social impact of photographic art.

Her gallery, wall space, supported emerging and mid-career artists with exhibitions, talks, events and art fairs around the country. As an internationally known gallery, Crista worked with clients all over the world and represented national and international artists. In addition to wall space’s special event and exhibition schedule, it hosted a series of artist lectures, studio and community events.

Ms. Dix, wall space and the artists who were part of its success believed in giving back, creating a charitable giving program called Life Support. In ten years Life Support worked with over 400 artists, donating over $80,000 to charitable foundations Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief and Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to curating exhibitions and mentoring photographers, she has written essays about photography, been a member of panels and discussions on the craft, juried creative competitions, and has participated in major portfolio reviews across the country.

Kris Graves

Director, KGP MONOLITH

Kris Graves (b. 1982 New York, NY) is an artist and publisher based in New York and California. Graves creates artwork that deals with societal problems and aims to use art as a means to inform people about cultural issues. Using a mix of conceptual and documentary practices, Graves photographs the subtleties of societal power and its impact on the built environment. He explores how capitalism and power have shaped countries — and how that can be seen and experienced in everyday life. Graves also works to elevate the representation of people of color in the fine art canon; and to create opportunities for conversation about race, representation, and urban life.

Alex Pollack

Director of Photography, National Geographic

Alex Pollack is a visual director and creative producer with two decades of experience shaping photo-driven content across editorial, digital, and brand platforms. Her work focuses on telling stories through thoughtful, impactful visuals, and she brings a collaborative approach to every project.

She was most recently Group Photo Director at Bustle Digital Group, overseeing photography across seven brands, including Bustle and Nylon. Before that, Alex spent time at Apple, contributed as Visual Director at Goop, and led the visuals team at Bon Appétit, where she helped guide a refresh of the brand’s visual identity. Earlier in her career, she was a photo editor at New York Magazine, where she worked on a wide range of stories, from politics to culture.

Throughout her career, Alex has remained focused on producing meaningful, engaging visual work that supports strong storytelling—across formats, teams, and genres.