Meet the Dixon Staff - Laura Gray

Name: Laura Gray Teekell    

Position: PR Associate

College/University:  BA, History, Rhodes College, MA, History of Art and Connoisseurship, Christies Education/University of Glasgow 

How long have you worked at the Dixon?  Since January…

The best thing about living in Memphis is……

The people and the food—I enjoy being here (in Memphis and more specifically at the Dixon) because I am surrounded by and connected to people who care about Memphis and in doing so, highlight the good things that are happening across the community (specifically in the arts and culture sector) and continue to make it a better place to live.

What famous artist (deceased or living) would you want to be for one day and why?

Oouufff. This is the best/worst question. Ideally, it would be someone who can be credited with thinking or creating something that was completely new for their time—like Leonardo Da Vinci for his across-the-board genius, but that is pretty subjective and people are always influenced by something or someone before them…but that being said it would most likely one of the Old Masters—Durer, Michelangelo, Bosch (because his stuff is nuts), El Greco or Bernini. Or in Modern painting, Manet or Picasso. OR any one of the Royal French furniture makers from the second half of the 18^th century, just because.

How old were you on your first visit to a museum (art, science history)? How did it shape your interest in museums?

I remember visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in DC when I was…not sure how old—I was really into animals and dinosaurs and seeing stuff that I had never seen or didn’t exist in the natural world anymore. Just found it fascinating, I remember thinking that this was not a “boring” museum.

Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are their names?

Moose is a black lab mix, he is almost 7 (sniff, sniff), and he’s awesome and very human-like.

What is your favorite piece in Jean-Louis Forain: La Comédie parisienne?

I love the Café Riche series and In the Wings. I also love Toff with a Bouquet and the drawing of Clemenceau.

What do you like most about working at the Dixon?

I love the Dixon’s collection, the history of the house and the Dixons, and being surrounded by such beautiful gardens that people really care about and care for! Really, I like the people and how everyone is trying to do great things here—and that we’re succeeding!