Laura Mueller and Caleb Sayan discuss Andrea's outsider approach to collecting in Japan.
Laura J. Mueller, Ph.D., previously Curator of Art at the Portland Japanese Garden, has a rich background in Japanese art, including directing an art department at Joan B Mirviss Ltd Japanese Art in New York. She has been instrumental in producing significant exhibitions and publications in the field of Japanese art across several prestigious museums in the United States, including the Japan Society Gallery, NY; Brooklyn Museum of Art; Newark Museum; and Toledo Museum of Art. Dr. Mueller emphasizes the evolving role of museums in fostering community engagement, dialogue, and understanding through the lens of folk art. Her academic journey includes a doctorate in Japanese Art History from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a dual degree M.B.A./M.A. in Arts Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, underscoring her contributions to Japanese art scholarship.