Glenn Lowry is stepping down as director of MoMA after nearly 30 years, a tenure that began with skepticism due to his background in Islamic art and leadership of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Under his guidance, MoMA underwent two major expansions, grew its collection to over 200,000 works, opened the PS1 satellite space, and now attracts nearly 2.7 million annual visitors. Lowry navigated the museum through crises including 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, Covid, and the 2021 protests that led to board chair Leon Black's resignation. Elsewhere, art dealer Michael Reid warns that AI will initially cut gallery jobs before boosting productivity, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna has accepted Flynn, an AI art student, into its Fine Arts program.
Lowry's departure marks the end of an era for one of the world's most influential modern art museums, highlighting the challenges of institutional leadership in turbulent times. The AI developments—both Reid's cautionary analysis and the university's acceptance of an AI artist—signal a growing reckoning with technology's role in the art world, from back-office automation to fundamental questions about authorship and creativity. These stories collectively underscore how art institutions are adapting to technological disruption and shifting cultural expectations.