The Mattress Factory, a contemporary art museum and residency program in Pittsburgh, has appointed Anthony Elms as its artistic director, effective February 2024. Elms, who previously served as chief curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia and as a director at Peter Freeman, Inc., will oversee all artistic programming, including exhibitions, commissions, and the residency program. He was also a cocurator of the 2014 Whitney Biennial and recently organized a solo exhibition for Rodney McMillian at the Henry Art Gallery.
This appointment matters as the Mattress Factory prepares for its 50th anniversary in 2027, signaling a strategic investment in leadership with deep institutional and commercial art-world experience. Elms's artist-first approach and track record of resonant exhibitions align with the museum's mission to support artists in challenging definitions of art. His hiring also reflects ongoing cross-sector movement between museums and galleries, a notable trend in the contemporary art field.