Franklin Sirmans, the Terri and Michael Smooke Department Head and Curator of Contemporary Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA),is known for exhibitions that celebrate universality as well as individuality. His curatorial practice looks at art through such lenses as spirituality, the multicultural experience, and even soccer. In 2014 Sirmans served as Artistic Director for Prospect.3 New Orleans, a recently established biennial that showcases new artistic practices from around the world in settings that are both historic and culturally exceptional, and contributes to the cultural economy of New Orleans.