Vasari Art Codex

person people schedule Apr 10, 2026 visibility 34 link 36 artists, 4 galleries

Shoptalk: New Guggenheim Director Melissa Chiu on How She Got the Job

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, transitioning from her long-standing leadership at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The appointment was the result of a confidential search led by Mariët Westermann, the Guggenheim’s overall director and CEO, who determined that the expanding global "constellation" of museums required a dedicated leader for the New York flagship. Chiu will officially assume the role in September, just ahead of the highly anticipated opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2025.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 9, 2026 visibility 34 link 11 artists, 2 galleries

Hirshhorn Museum Director Melissa Chiu Leaves for Guggenheim, Another Smithsonian Departure

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Starting September 1, Chiu will report to Mariët Westermann, CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, effectively splitting the leadership responsibilities previously held by Richard Armstrong. During her decade-long tenure at the Hirshhorn, Chiu was known for staging massive blockbuster exhibitions, including the record-breaking Yayoi Kusama "Infinity Mirror Rooms" show, though she also faced criticism for commercial ventures like a reality TV competition.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 9, 2026 source 4 sources visibility 9 link 10 artists

Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu Departs to Lead Guggenheim Museum

Melissa Chiu is stepping down as director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden after a decade-long tenure to lead the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Appointed by Guggenheim Foundation CEO Mariët Westermann, Chiu will officially assume her new role on September 1, while deputy director Aaron Seeto takes the interim helm at the Hirshhorn.

newspaper Artforum Also: ArtAsiaPacific, Artnet News, New York Times Art open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 9, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 9 link 9 artists, 1 gallery

Guggenheim Museum Appoints Melissa Chiu as Next Director

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has appointed Melissa Chiu as its new director, effective September 1. Chiu joins the New York flagship after a 12-year tenure at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where she was credited with doubling attendance and significantly increasing fundraising. Her appointment is part of a leadership restructuring by Guggenheim Foundation Director and CEO Mariët Westermann, who will shift her focus toward the foundation's international outposts, including the upcoming Abu Dhabi location.

newspaper Hyperallergic Also: Artsy Editorial open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 9, 2026 visibility 7 link 4 artists

Melissa Chiu leaving Hirshhorn to take over New York’s Guggenheim Museum

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, transitioning directly from her decade-long tenure at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. During her time at the Hirshhorn, Chiu was credited with doubling attendance, significantly increasing fundraising, and overseeing a major $68m garden renovation by Hiroshi Sugimoto. She will begin her new role on September 1, while Aaron Seeto steps in as interim director at the Hirshhorn.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 8, 2026 visibility 7 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

New UCCA CEO Kong Lingyi on the Beijing Institution’s Future

Kong Lingyi has been appointed as the new CEO of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, succeeding Philip Tinari who stepped down shortly before the Lunar New Year. A veteran of the institution since 2012, Kong previously served as vice president of brand and is now tasked with overseeing UCCA’s multiple branches in Beijing, Beidaihe, and Yixing. Her leadership marks a shift toward a new management structure focused on institutional sustainability and public accessibility.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 9, 2026 visibility 8 link 2 artists

Melissa Chiu leaves Hirschhorn directorship for Guggenheim

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, effective September 1. She departs the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., where she has served as director since 2014. This leadership transition follows a decade of growth at the Hirshhorn under Chiu’s tenure and marks a significant shift for the Guggenheim’s administrative structure.

newspaper ArtReview open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Mar 27, 2026 source 5 sources visibility 10 link 1 gallery

Guillaume Cerutti Out as President of Paris’s Pinault Collection After 13 Months

Guillaume Cerutti has stepped down from his position as President of the Pinault Collection in Paris after only thirteen months. The institution, founded by billionaire François Pinault, has stated it has no plans to replace him or appoint an interim president, signaling a potential restructuring of its leadership.

newspaper Artforum Also: Artnet News, ARTnews, The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Mar 4, 2026 visibility 2

royal ontario museum director nicholas r bell 1234775700

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto has appointed Nicholas R. Bell as its new director and CEO, effective July 6. Bell, who currently leads the Glenbow museum in Calgary, succeeds Josh Basseches following a decade-long tenure. During his time at Glenbow, Bell was noted for securing a $250 million capital campaign and implementing a landmark free-admission policy, the first of its kind for a major Canadian museum.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Feb 23, 2026 visibility 1 link 6 artists, 6 galleries

travesia cuatro takes on virginia chihota and more 1234770535

The art world saw a wave of significant personnel shifts and representation updates this week, highlighted by Travesía Cuatro adding Zimbabwean artist Virginia Chihota to its roster and Esther Schipper announcing representation of Saâdane Afif. Institutional moves include the Baltimore Museum of Art appointing Rhea L. Combs and Ellen McBreen to curatorial fellowships, while Joe Hill was named the new Director and CEO of Yorkshire Sculpture Park ahead of its 50th anniversary.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 1

devyani saltzman abruptly leaves her role as director of the barbican in london 1234773690

Devyani Saltzman has abruptly left her position as Director of Arts and Participation at the Barbican Centre in London. Her departure, which comes just weeks after the arrival of a new CEO and shortly after she unveiled a five-year creative vision for the institution, marks another sudden leadership change at the major UK arts center.

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