Objects Conservation

« All our conservation treatments

MACC objects conservators examine and treat all three-dimensional works of art and cultural heritage objects. A wide variety of materials are found in the objects lab, including ceramics, glass, metal, painted and unpainted wood, gilt surfaces, leather, feathers, ivory, bone, plant materials, plastic, and other contemporary materials.

Conservation treatments can include cleaning, repair or reassembly, surface stabilization, reversing old and disfiguring restorations, and compensation for loss. In addition to performing in-laboratory conservation treatments, the conservators also conduct object-by-object condition surveys of museum collections and undertake on-site treatments of large-scale works of art.

Megan Emery, Chief Conservator and Senior Objects Conservator

Megan Emery joined MACC in 2013 and is the Chief Conservator and Senior Objects Conservator. Megan received her MA in Art Conservation from Buffalo State’s Garmen Art Conservation Department. Previously she was objects conservator at the Cincinnati Art Museum and held fellowships and internships at the National Museum of the American Indian, Walters Art Museum, and Poggio Colla Archeological Field School. Megan enjoys working on all types of materials, especially decorative arts, and objects from Indigenous and world cultures. Megan has extensive experience in the management of large-scale conservation projects, including monumental sculpture and murals. Megan is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), active in AIC’s Objects Specialty Group, and a member of the International Institute for Conservation.

Courtney Murray

Courtney Murray, Objects Conservator

Courtney Murray joined MACC in 2017, coming from the Denver Art Museum where she worked from 2013-2017. Prior, she held fellowships and internships at the Royal British Columbia Museum, Toledo Museum of Art, Michael C. Carlos Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, and Indianapolis Museum of Art. Murray has extensive experience with a wide range of structures and materials. She particularly enjoys working on large-scale public art, community-led preservation projects, and science and technology collections. Courtney holds a Master of Science in Conservation from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Emory University. She is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation and is a member of the International Council of Museums-Committee for Conservation and the Association for Preservation Technology: Western Great Lakes Chapter. She is OSHA-30 certified for the construction industry.

Megan Randall, Objects Conservator

Ms. Randall joined MACC in 2021, coming from Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) where she worked from 2015-2021. Prior to entering the field of conservation, she worked as a finisher at Modern Art Foundry in Astoria, Queens. She received a Master’s degree from Christie’s Education in 2008 and a Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. She earned her Graduate degree in art conservation at the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU and interned at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. She is an Associate member of the American Institute for Conservation, Objects Specialty Group and Contemporary Art Network.Megan Randall joined MACC in 2021, coming from Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) where she worked from 2015-2021. Prior to entering the field of conservation, she worked as a finisher at Modern Art Foundry in Astoria, Queens. She received a Master’s degree from Christie’s Education in 2008 and a Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. She earned her Graduate degree in art conservation at the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU and interned at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. She is an Associate member of the American Institute for Conservation, Objects Specialty Group and Contemporary Art Network.