Transforming The Frick Collection’s Historic Lighting Fixtures IN PERSON

Gilded Age Lighting:

Transforming The Frick Collection’s Historic Fixtures for the 21st Century

With Barbara Livar, Senior Project Manager at Aurora Lampworks

and Jenna Nugent, Head of Curatorial and Exhibition Projects at The Frick Collection

Tuesday, October 28th at 6.00 P.M.

An In-Person and Online Program

The in-person program will be followed by a short reception

This talk is part of Archtober

Presented in Partnership with The New York Landmarks Conservancy

From 2021–25, The Frick Collection underwent its most extensive renovation and enhancement project to date. Guided by a respect for the historic character of the buildings and collections, the project—designed by Selldorf Architects—expanded access to the museum’s historic spaces and created new state-of-the-art spaces for exhibitions, conservation, education, research, and public programs. Visitor amenities were also added and critical systems and infrastructure updated. Selldorf partnered with executive architect Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, one of the country’s leading firms for historic preservation.

Throughout the course of the renovation, Aurora Lampworks worked closely with the museum and Sciame Construction LLC, the construction manager, to carefully restore hundreds of historic lighting fixtures. In this presentation, Barbara Livar, Senior Project Manager at Aurora Lampworks, and Jenna Nugent, Head of Curatorial and Exhibition Projects at The Frick Collection, will discuss Aurora’s collaboration with the Frick within the context of its large-scale renovation project, the different levels of treatment that were undertaken, and how some fixtures were carefully adapted to accept mini LED spotlights, improving the illumination of master artworks without compromising their distinctive Gilded Age character and design.

The Frick Collection originated with Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919), who bequeathed his home, paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts to the public for their enjoyment. The institution’s holdings—which encompass masterworks from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century—have grown over the decades, more than doubling in size since the opening of the museum in 1935. A critical component of the institution is the Frick Art Research Library, founded in 1920 by Helen Clay Frick, daughter of the museum’s founder. Recognized as one of the world’s top art history research centers, it has served students, scholars, and members of the public free of charge for generations.

Aurora Lampworks has served the architectural, design, and restoration communities for more than 30 years. Dawn Ladd, Principal, founded Aurora in New Haven, Connecticut as a showroom in which antique lighting fixtures were restored and offered for sale. The company moved to New York City in 1990. Since then, its team of project managers, technicians, fabricators, and finishers have restored and replicated light fixtures for many iconic, historic, and landmarked buildings throughout the United States.

Jenna Nugent has worked at The Frick Collection in varying capacities since 2014. From 2021–24, she served as Curatorial Project Manager, overseeing all restoration and renovation initiatives relating to the museum’s historic interiors and finishes. In her current role as Head of Curatorial and Exhibition Projects, Jenna is responsible for the management and implementation of all temporary exhibitions, rotating installations of permanent collection objects, and curatorial projects. She holds a BA in art history and visual arts from Barnard College.

Barbara Livar is a Senior Project Manager at Aurora Lampworks, where she oversees the restoration, replication, and custom fabrication of historic and contemporary lighting fixtures. With a BFA from Syracuse University and a background in the arts, she approaches projects with a maker’s perspective and meticulous attention to detail. Since joining Aurora in 2016 she has managed complex projects for clients such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Johns Hopkins University, and The Frick Collection.