We are deeply saddened to share that our Chief Operations Officer, Kim Domanski, passed away over the weekend. Kim was not only a valued colleague but also a dear friend to many. Her infectious laugh and unwavering kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.
Kim’s work for the city and its artists spanned more than two decades. She founded Baltimore’s Public Art Commission, and authored the City’s official policy for accepting and maintaining gifts of public art. She then managed the Gifts of Public Art approval process as well as the Percent-for-Art program, commissioning several works of public art that generations of Baltimoreans and visitors will continue to enjoy. Kim is perhaps best known as co-founder of the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize and curator of the Light City exhibition, in which roles she worked with curators and artists of national and international renown and oversaw dozens of public art installations each year. With her life partner, the artist Ed Istwan, she also served on the jury of AVAM’s Kinetic Sculpture Race from its inaugural year in 1999 to the present. Kim brought this considerable experience and network to The Peale and all of the exhibitions and programs we presented: more than 100 since her arrival in the fall of 2022, with a robust rental program that was key to establishing The Peale’s sustainability. Many came to The Peale from Kim’s personal connections. She worked with every community partner to ensure that their vision and aims for their presentations were realized, and that each program had what it needed in terms of staffing and equipment, often suggesting ways to make programs more efficient and impactful.
She connected artists and curators to bring additional expertise and professional development opportunities to their projects. Kim also mentored two cohorts of apprentices and Peale staff, sharing tips and best practices in exhibition installation and program management gleaned from some 25 years of working in the arts. Again with Ed, she created our new Curiosity Shop, a showcase for local artists and artisans as well as vintage items that speaks to The Peale’s dual purpose as a platform for Baltimore’s history and contemporary creativity. In her 2.5 years with The Peale, Kim oversaw exponential growth in visitation, reaching nearly 10,000 visitors to The Peale in 2024.
In reality, Kim’s contributions to the art landscape in Baltimore are too many to include. These are “just the highlights,” as her partner says. He goes on to remark, “She will be remembered by her colleagues and friends as a humble, thoughtful, and tireless supporter of the visual arts here in Baltimore. She will be remembered by her loved ones as the fun sister and Aunt who enjoyed walking on the beach and taking in the waves. Together we will all miss her beautiful warmth, her natural smile, and her ability to passionately shine for everyone.”
