Lisa Phillips, director of New York's New Museum, will retire after more than 25 years in the role, as reported by the New York Times. The museum is currently in the midst of a 62,000-square-foot expansion expected to open this fall, though no date has been set. Phillips, 71, oversaw the museum's relocation to the Bowery in 2007, launched the influential New Museum Triennial in 2010, and added initiatives like New Inc and Rhizome. Her tenure also included controversies, such as criticism over a 2010 show of works owned by a trustee, staff complaints about her $900,000 salary, and tensions around the museum's unionization in 2019.
Phillips' departure marks a significant leadership transition at a major New York institution, coming shortly after Glenn Lowry announced his exit from the Museum of Modern Art. The New Museum will now search for a successor while working to grow its endowment by $50 million by 2027. Her legacy includes expanding the museum's physical footprint, championing emerging and underrepresented artists, and establishing the Triennial as a key platform for new talent, though her tenure also highlighted ongoing debates about museum leadership, compensation, and labor relations.