February 15, 2022
Independent art and design curator Diana Lada L’Henaff has been selected to guide the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s October4Design initiative.
L’Henaff has a vast portfolio of professional experience, working previously at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Jewish Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. All three museums are located in New York City.
The New Canaan resident has also served as an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY and lectured at The New School University Center/Parsons School of Design. She holds a master’s degree in decorative arts and visual culture studies from New York University and a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
“I look forward to tapping the creative pool in our town and, nationally, to build on our history and future as a nexus for design inspiration and education,” L’Henaff said. “I am so excited to be joining the Museum and to be expanding New Canaan’s presence in the fields of art, design and architecture.”
L’Henaff, who collaborated with her husband to design their own home in New Canaan, said in terms of design and architecture, New Canaan compares favorably to the California desert community of Palm Springs, where mid-century modern architecture also abounds.
“New Canaan is to the East Coast what Palm Springs is to the West,” L’Henaff says.
Nancy Geary, executive director of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, is thrilled L’Henaff is taking the lead with October4Design.
“She brings a wealth of expertise, a passion for our mission, and a wonderful creative energy,” Geary says. “Her broad knowledge of, and contacts in, the art, design, and architecture community mean that we will all enjoy new educational opportunities and diverse voices. I look forward to working with her to build and grow October4Design.”
October4Design, which launched in 2020, is a series of lectures, programs, and activities that celebrate art, architecture, and design in the community. Although the Museum & Historical Society spearheads the planning, and hosts many of the programs, all cultural institutions, businesses, and restaurants are invited to participate by offering relevant and related events.
This year’s October4Design celebration is scheduled for October 13-23. Keep track of plans at the Museum’s website.
