Philippe Vergne, the French curator who has served as director of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art in Porto since 2019, will step down at the end of July 2026 at his own request. The Serralves Foundation announced that Vergne will continue contributing to exhibition curation until his departure, and the search for a new director will begin immediately. During his tenure, the museum presented major exhibitions of artists including Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, Cindy Sherman, Mark Bradford, and Maurizio Cattelan, and expanded its space with the Álvaro Siza Wing.
Vergne's departure marks the end of a seven-year leadership that significantly raised the museum's international profile. His tenure saw a robust program of solo and thematic exhibitions spanning modern masters and contemporary figures, as well as physical expansion of the museum. The transition comes as the institution has already planned its 2027 program, signaling continuity. The selection of Vergne's successor will be closely watched in the European museum world, given Serralves' growing reputation under his direction.