A Day in New York City with MoMA PS1’s Teresa Lillis

Teresa Lillis is the Manager of Individual Giving at MoMA PS1, heading the Patron Programs for the Museum and engaging with donors, key constituents, and local community members as a representative of PS1. She has dedicated her career to development and membership programs at art and design organizations, working at the Cooper Hewitt, Saatchi Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and as the Development Manager at AIA New York/Center for Architecture previous to joining the PS1 team. Teresa’s ideal day includes a long run, gallery hopping, thrifting, and trying new delicious spots with friends in Brooklyn.

6:15am: I tend to wake up between 6-6:30am depending on how early I managed to go to bed the night before. I was never a morning person previous to the pandemic, but I now deeply appreciate the peace it brings me and having time to myself before the chaos of my day inevitably ensues. I drink lots of water, have a shot of espresso (I have a Jura and it’s my pride and joy), and sit in my living room as I go through emails and organize my tasks for the day, managing to plan items for an upcoming Ser Serpas studio visit for PS1 Patrons.

6:45am: I get dressed and head out of my apartment for a run! I run every other day and am absolutely obsessed with it — I am that crazy person you see mouthing along to music as they go. I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and tend to go up and down the avenues to get a few miles in. It snowed the night before and the landscape is stunning, so I run the Prospect Park loop to do 10k.

Classic Case of Me Checking Out an Exhibition during the Weekend; Credit: Sofia Brännström.

8:15am: After a stretch and shower, I get ready for the day speedy fast while munching on a croissant with fig jam and nut butter, and catch the F into Manhattan. This is not usual as I am on-site at PS1 in Long Island City three or four days of the week. I really enjoy being there to immerse myself in the sphere and to collaborate with my team. PS1 is also extremely active in engaging with its community through programs and events, so I go in to take part in these special moments. I love my job! Today, I happen to be running around Manhattan for work.

9:30am: I arrive at a coffee shop in lower Manhattan to hop on a call with a new patron at PS1. Following this chat, another new patron comes by and we touch base in-person. I discuss the fabric of the groups, the fabulous events program planned for the Spring season, and more.

After wrapping up these moments of connection, I answer emails and work on time-sensitive projects — uploading guest lists for upcoming patron events such as a an in-process sneak peek into the upcoming PS1 exhibition Julien Ceccaldi: Adult Theater with the artist, spring exhibition celebratory receptions, and more.

1:30pm: My father is in town today! He is keen to visit the Tenement Museum, so I meet him at Clinton Street Baking Company for lunch right before his tour. It’s pancake month and we devour the Cinnamon Roll pancake special. Yum. I pop over to another coffee shop and continue my work, largely focusing on the logistics and planning for our Greater New Yorkers travel program to Santa Fe this summer to celebrate SITE SANTA FE’s 12th International, Once Within a Time — an interdisciplinary contemporary arts institution and biennial which partners with cultural institutions around Santa Fe to create dialogues and collaborations in conjunction with the exhibition.

Enjoying the MoMA PS1 Exhibition, *Sohrab Hura: Mother*; Credit: Sarah Teng.

6:00pm: I was invited to an opening at Galerie56 in Tribeca to celebrate their newest exhibition Veritas: SheltonMindel for Ralph Pucci. I probably go to gallery openings after work at least once if not twice a week, either in Manhattan or Brooklyn, but stick to Brooklyn exhibitions on the weekends. I find it thrilling to take in contemporary and emerging artist projects that are critical to our cultural landscape, and I often get to run into friends and PS1 community members while I’m at it. I bop over to Satellite Gallery as well on my way back to Park Slope.

8:30pm: I make myself a miso salmon dinner. I revel in a going-out-to-dinner moment with friends, of course, but when eating on my own I prefer to cook myself something yummy and healthy as opposed to picking up takeout (and save money doing it lol).

9:00pm: I go through my calendar for the next day to confirm timing of tasks and logistics. I have a fun day scheduled for tomorrow – an on-site walk with the artist of DonChristian Jones: The Sumptuous Discovery of Gotham a Go-Go for the PS1 Board, and a screening at Film Forum in the evening! I am a part of the Film Forum Advisory Committee and a member of Young Film Forum (YFF), their program for supporters in their 30s and younger. They are screening a Q&A for Paint Me a Road Out of Here, which happens to have a PS1 Board Member participating — I love when paths cross like this. I meal-prep lunch for tomorrow and an extra sandwich to have at the office beforehand, as the YFF folks will be going to Temperance Wine Bar following the screening – wise for me to eat before a 7-11pm social engagement!

10:30pm: Phew…I am exhausted. I do my nightly wash up ritual and scroll a bit before heading to bed. On an ideal night I fall asleep around 10:30, but that is often unrealistic with my daily evening plans. 11pm seems to be more-so the typical. I set an alarm for 6:00 to make a morning spin class before work, answer any texts I have totally put off the entire day running around, and look forward to the day ahead!