Our Team
Jon Ott
Executive Director
Jon Ott is the Executive Director and a founding member of the Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation. As a close personal friend of the late artist, Jon was designated by Hunt as his official biographer and the trusted shepherd of his monumental legacy. Jon spent countless hours with Richard Hunt, culminating in a comprehensive illustrated chronology and biography of the artist's life in the monograph, Richard Hunt. He is widely recognized by leading art institutions as the foremost authority on Hunt’s prolific seven-decade career.
An accomplished author, scholar, and speaker, Jon frequently shares his deep expertise on Hunt's life and art at prominent cultural institutions and museums worldwide. He has authored definitive biographical essays and serves as an advisor for major Richard Hunt museum and gallery exhibitions.
Molly Ott
Director of Program Operations and Marketing
Molly Ott leads the strategic vision for the foundation’s programs, global brand, marketing, public relations, and educational outreach.
With a proven track record of more than 20 years in marketing, communications, and publishing, Molly bridges the gap between historical preservation and modern digital engagement. Prior to joining the Foundation, she held key leadership roles at RH Helping Hands as a founding board member and Director of Marketing, where she successfully spearheaded complex multi-channel campaigns, major branding initiatives, and fundraisers; and at Aon as a strategic human resources consultant for the Legal Research team.
Passionate about preserving the impact of one of America’s most prominent sculptors, Molly oversees the storytelling and communication strategies that bring Richard Hunt’s artistic legacy to new national and international audiences. Molly also manages the growing internship program for the foundation.
Research Interns
Learn about Art History and Richard Hunt
The foundation is proud to offer research internships to undergraduate and post-graduate students, providing opportunities to gain practical experience in an artist's foundation prior to entering the workforce.
Two formal positions are available through the University of Chicago's Jeff Metcalf Internship Program, including the following quarter-long opportunities:
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Archival Research Internship
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University of Chicago-focused Archival Research Internship
We welcome interest from individuals studying art, art history, Chicago history, and have a general interest in learning about sculptor Richard Hunt. We invite you to contact us directly at info@richardhuntsculptor.org.
What You’ll Gain
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Direct experience with the artist’s archives and the artist-endowed foundation and its programs, dedicated to an internationally-known Chicago artist, Richard Hunt.
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Hands-on involvement in professional art scholarly research.
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An understanding of how artist foundations work, along with knowledge of the artist’s life and works of art.
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Digital media management skills.
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Practical experience in artist’s archival management and foundation operations.
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Mentorship from experienced senior management and exposure to cross-departmental projects.
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A valuable portfolio of work contributing to real-world initiatives for a profession in the art industry.
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Professional research, projects, and experience that contribute toward the Intern’s academic coursework and degree.
Previous Interns
Elizabeth Timofeeva (2025–2026)
"I am able to confidently say that this internship provided me with far more skills and portfolio-ready experience than I expected. Not only is my knowledge and understanding of the art world far greater after this summer, but the foundation's support and mentorship has allowed me to feel confident in my upcoming art-related interviews."