The Bronx Museum of the Arts has appointed Shamim M. Momin as its next director and chief curator, effective early September. Momin succeeds Klaudio Rodriguez, who left last September to lead the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida. Most recently director of curatorial affairs at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle (2018–2024), Momin curated the group exhibition “In Plain Sight” and oversaw commissions by artists including Tala Madani, Gary Simmons, and Hank Willis Thomas. She also cofounded LAND (Los Angeles Nomadic Division) in 2009, curating over 100 public art commissions, and previously served as an associate curator at the Whitney Museum and branch director of its now-closed Midtown outpost, where she organized more than 50 projects. She co-curated the 2004 and 2008 Whitney Biennials.
This appointment matters because the Bronx Museum is in the midst of a $42.9 million renovation and expansion set to open next year, requiring a director who can guide the institution through this transformative period. Momin’s experience with community-focused, site-specific public art and her commitment to accessibility and diversity align with the museum’s mission to serve its local community and expand its cultural footprint. Her dual role as chief curator also signals a continued emphasis on programming that reflects the museum’s values around equity and artist support.