The Frick Collection in New York has appointed Julia Day as its new chief conservator, a role she assumed upon the retirement of Joseph Godla, who had held the position since 2005. Day, a Frick veteran who left in 2022 to become a senior conservator at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, returned this spring to lead the museum's expanded conservation efforts. Her appointment coincides with the reopening of the Frick's renovated 1914 mansion, which now features a new 1,200-square-foot conservation studio—the Sherman Fairchild Center for Art Conservation—designed by Samuel Anderson Architects, along with a radiography room and exhibition preparation spaces.
This appointment matters because it highlights the Frick's significant behind-the-scenes investment in conservation infrastructure, a crucial but often overlooked aspect of museum operations. Day's leadership will oversee an expanded team and state-of-the-art equipment, including a standing microscope and laser for on-site treatments, enhancing the museum's ability to care for its renowned collection of Old Master paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects. The move signals a commitment to long-term preservation and positions the Frick to better manage its holdings independently, while still collaborating with neighboring institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.