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wadsworth atheneum president allison blais 1234761174

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, has appointed Allison Blais as its new president and CEO, effective January 2026. Blais, currently executive vice president and chief strategy and operations officer at New York’s 9/11 Memorial & Museum, will succeed Jeffrey N. Brown, who held the role for five years. The announcement was made by board chair Duffield Ashmead IV MD, who praised Blais's experience with large-scale capital projects and stakeholder engagement. Blais, a Connecticut native, expressed her long familiarity with the Wadsworth and her enthusiasm for working with museum director Matthew Hargraves.

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art world joe rogan onx expands and more industry moves 1234761632

This week's art industry moves include Allison Blais being named President and CEO of the Wadsworth Atheneum, succeeding Jeffrey N. Brown. The Onassis Foundation's ONX art-and-tech hub is expanding with a new Tribeca space opening in January 2026, debuting with the exhibition "TECHNE: Homecoming." Other appointments include Frank Lord joining Withers as senior counsel, Matthew Stavro becoming Senior Specialist at Freeman's, and Madeline Cornell as Sales Director at Morgan Presents. Galleries announced new artist representations: Anthony Meier and von Bartha jointly represent the estate of Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Jessica Silverman now represents Lava Thomas, Kendall Koppe represents Michael Bühler-Rose, and David Kordansky Gallery takes on Tristan Unrau. The Spector Craft Prize launches with Crystal Bridges Museum partnership. A blue diamond pendant known as the Mellon Blue sold at Christie's for $25 million, a 22% drop from its previous sale. The New York Times explores whether artist-podcaster Joshua Citarella could be the "Joe Rogan of the left."

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