{"id":15977,"date":"2016-09-07T18:13:49","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T10:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=15977"},"modified":"2026-03-14T06:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T05:10:12","slug":"an-interview-with-sarah-forbes-curator-of-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/an-interview-with-sarah-forbes-curator-of-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"An Interview with Sarah Forbes, the Curator of Sex"},"content":{"rendered":"

We were very pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Sarah Forbes, former curator of New York\u2019s Museum of Sex and author of Sex in the Museum<\/em>.<\/p>\n

With a Masters in Anthropology, with a focus on gender and sexuality, Sarah has curated\u00a0close to 20 exhibitions and multiple online installations, serving as \u201can interpreter of the academic and often dry information found in dusty libraries, translating it for the general public and making it entertaining as well as accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has been featured in a wide range of publications such as the New York Times, New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Reuters, Time Out New York, and New Scientist, and has appeared on the Today Show and Discovery\u2019s Curiosities with Maggie Gylenhaal.<\/p>\n

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Volont\u00e9: Can you give us a brief history of the Museum of Sex?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sarah Forbes: <\/strong>The Museum of Sex was founded in 2002 in New York City, by entrepreneur, Daniel Gluck. When I joined in 2004, I was deeply compelled by its desire to be a “Smithsonian of Sex.” It was so refreshing to see an institution so eager to take the topic of sex seriously, but also with a little bit of a punk rock attitude. Here I saw an institution that not only utilized the anthropological underpinnings of my academic background, but also blended this with history, fine art, technology and science. For me, this multiplicity of perspectives is what made my decade with the Museum so exciting.<\/p>\n

V: What is the goal, objective and purpose of the Museum of Sex?<\/strong><\/p>\n

SF: <\/strong>I think the goal of the Museum has evolved since its origin,\u00a0at times a force of education and others one of entertainment. But at its heart, I believe the Museum of Sex is about being unconventional in the museum world and beyond.<\/p>\n

V: What part of your time with the Museum of Sex are you most proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n

SF: <\/strong>I’m most proud of having been able to produce almost two dozen exhibitions, each diverse in subject matter and approach, that people learned from and enjoyed that experience of learning. No prouder success than that for a curator! There are so few places to have an open, honest, accurate and creative conversation on sex, and it is with great pride I was able to have a hand in such an important discourse that reached so many people<\/p>\n

V: Did you ever come against any opposition to what you were doing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

SF: <\/strong>As a private, for profit institution, the Museum of Sex is less controversial than people first assume. Yet, opposition was a constant element in my work. While the opposition wasn’t in the form of protests, I experienced it in more subtle yet equally potent manners. It felt like many galleries, artists, brands, corporations, and institutions wanted to work with us, even participating in rounds of conversations, but in the end our unapologetic relationship to sex staled many collaborations. It takes a lot of bravery to be bold.
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