STAFF

Pablo Limon, Office Assistant

Pablo Limon assists in museum administration, operations, and specialized projects at the Vincent Price Art Museum (VPAM) as the Office Assistant. He supports the museum’s daily operations by coordinating administrative tasks, assisting with logistics, and contributing to special projects across departments. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pablo brings a generational connection to the art experience at VPAM and plays a key administrative support role with both students and the surrounding community. A proud ELAC alum, he holds degrees in Computer Science, Arts & Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences, along with several specialized certifications in Business Administration. Pablo’s work reflects his dedication to supporting the museum’s mission and helping students meet their educational goals.

Chelsea Shi-Chao Liu, Registrar, Archivist, and Collections Coordinator *

Chelsea manages the care and logistics of all artworks within the museum, processes institutional archives, and provides access to the permanent collection. She is passionate about crafting policies and practices that activate VPAM’s collection as a site of curatorial, scholarly, and community engagement. Chelsea holds an MA in History & Archival Studies from Claremont Graduate University. She has previously served as community archivist and oral history project manager at the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, associate curator at the Japanese American National Museum, and processing intern at the Library of Congress. She is also a writer with interests in Asian/American visual cultures, an avid reader, and a fashion enthusiast.

Harvey Opgenorth, Preparator

Harvey Opgenorth brings several decades of experience in the art museum field, working at Los Angeles institutions since 2011. Serving as gallery preparator and exhibition technician at VPAM, Harvey plays a key role in exhibition production and stewardship of the museum’s collection, while fostering a collaborative environment for learning about art handling, formal display, and archival storage. An active practicing artist, Harvey has exhibited internationally and received the prestigious Mary L. Nohl Fellowship. Academic training includes a degree from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, advanced studies at the University of Illinois, and held residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and Parsons School of Design | The New School.

Gloria Ortega, Curatorial Assistant (she/her)*

Gloria researches, organizes, and supports the development of exhibitions and publications in the curatorial department. In 2024, she curated Del Alma: Latina Portraits from the Vincent Price Art Museum Permanent Collection, an exhibition featuring an intergenerational group of Chicana and Latina artists from Los Angeles, presented at The Founders Room at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. She has previously held curatorial and research roles at arts and culture institutions across Los Angeles County and nationally. Gloria earned her B.A. in Art History from California State University, Los Angeles, after completing an AA-T in Art History at East Los Angeles College. Her work is guided by an interest in cultural histories, memory, and collaboration in contemporary art.

Victor Parra, Operations Manager and Preparator

Victor supports VPAM’s exhibition preparation, installation, special projects and oversees the museum’s daily operations. He has a background in graphic design and has helped open hundreds of exhibitions at VPAM. He joined the team as a student worker in 1995 and became the first full-time LACCD Gallery Preparator in 1999. He has contributed to the museum’s growth and his passion for art and community-building has helped mentor many cohorts of students, interns, and junior staff members on their paths to becoming successful artists, designers, and museum professionals. During baseball season, he can often be found cheering for the BLUE at Dodger Stadium.

Hataya Tubtim, Executive Director, Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation *

Hataya works with the Foundation Board to advance fundraising and collaborates with VPAM’s Director on administrative operations that support the museum’s long-term sustainability. With a background in design and social practice, Hataya has worked as an artist, educator, and cultural organizer. Her perspective is shaped by more than a decade of teaching, including her work as a community college art professor. Having grown up in Southeast Los Angeles, Hataya is deeply committed to the role of art in education and everyday life, believing in its power to broaden perceptions, enhance agency, and foster belonging in our local communities.

Joseph Daniel Valencia (he/him), Curator of Exhibitions

Joseph leads the museum’s curatorial department, overseeing exhibitions, publications, and the growth of the permanent collection. His recent projects include We Place Life at the Center (2024–2025), Sonic Terrains in Latinx Art (2022), and Media Cycles (2025–ongoing), a new initiative focused on commissioning work by lens-based and multimedia artists. He previously held positions at the Getty, LACMA, and ONE Archives, and has taught at colleges across Southern California. He earned his MA in Curatorial Practice from USC and a BA in Art History from California State University, Fullerton. A proud Chicano and first-generation college student, Joseph draws inspiration from his culture and believes in the power of art to reframe narratives and empower communities.

Steve Wong (he/him), Museum Director

Steve Wong directs the museum’s vision, exhibitions, collections, and programs to ensure alignment with its mission. He manages budgets, staff, and partnerships to keep VPAM sustainable and relevant. Steve brings more than 25 years of experience in the arts, including 15 years in the museum and non-profit gallery field. He holds an MFA in Art from UC Santa Barbara, an MA in Asian American Studies from UCLA, and a BA in Art from UCLA. He also attended the Santa Monica College of Design, Art, and Architecture before transferring to UCLA. He is drawn to agitating and subverting power structures, mostly as a means of social justice and resistance, but sometimes just for fun. In his spare time, he enjoys discovering new music and attending live shows.

Miranda Ynez, Curator of Educational Programs

Miranda is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing a wide range of art education and public programming—such as lectures, artist talks, symposiums, performances, art-making workshops, and exhibition-related events—designed to enhance engagement with VPAM and its a wide range of college, art world, and community audiences. She holds a dual MA in Art History from California State University, Los Angeles and a MA in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in Arts Education and Art History. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, she is committed to increasing participation in arts, culture, and education through intergenerational and intersectional arts programming throughout local Los Angeles communities.

Katie Dunham, Communications Consultant **

Katie Dunham manages the museum’s communications strategy and marketing efforts, building both awareness and audiences. With over twenty years of experience in arts and culture throughout Los Angeles, she has promoted more than 1,000 exhibits, events, and initiatives to media, locally, nationally, and internationally. Before launching her own communications practice, she held positions at the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, USC, and the Natural History Museum, and supported the launches of two museums: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE. She lives in Downtown L.A. with her two dachshunds.

Eva Recinos, Digital Content Creator Consultant **

Eva manages and creates content for various digital platforms, including VPAM’s social media channels, mailing list, and website. She has more than a decade of experience writing about visual art. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, she is dedicated to spotlighting the work of artists, writers, and creators of color. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing cozy video games.