The role of executive assistant to the director affords Downing an opportunity to be involved in all facets of ICA’s work. She first joined ICA in 2014 as curatorial assistant.

Before moving to Philadelphia, Downing was the assistant director of Ion, a contemporary art and design gallery in State College, Pennsylvania. She has always had an interest in combining her skills in art and business. She enjoys thinking through institutional structures and appreciates administration as a creative outlet.

Downing earned her MA in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019. During her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she triple-majored in art history, finance, and French, with a minor in international business. She is the co-director of Ulises, a bookshop and curatorial platform in Philadelphia focused on artists’ books and independent art publications. Outside of work, she’s usually rock climbing or at the gig.