The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Oluremi C. Onabanjo as Curator in its Department of Photographs following an international search. Onabanjo, who joins from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), will oversee exhibitions, acquisitions, and research for 20th-century and contemporary photography, with a specific emphasis on international practices in Africa and Asia. Her role includes the stewardship of the Walther Collection, a massive gift of over 6,500 works, and the preparation of a major exhibition scheduled for 2028.
This appointment marks a strategic shift for The Met as it prepares for the 2030 opening of the Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art. By hiring one of the field's most prominent voices, the museum signals a commitment to a more global and interconnected art history that moves beyond traditional geographic silos. Onabanjo’s expertise in African diasporic photography and time-based media is expected to play a crucial role in modernizing the institution's narrative and integrating photography more deeply into its broader curatorial framework.