Melissa Chiu nommée à la tête du Guggenheim New York
Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, effective September 1. Currently the head of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., Chiu succeeds Mariët Westermann, who will transition to a strategic role overseeing the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s international network. Chiu brings a proven track record of fundraising, having secured nearly $250 million during her tenure at the Hirshhorn, and is credited with significantly increasing attendance and diversifying the museum's collections.
This high-profile appointment comes amid a wave of leadership departures at the Smithsonian Institution, where four directors have stepped down in less than two years under increasing political pressure. While the Smithsonian has faced scrutiny over diversity and social programming during the second Trump administration, Chiu maintains that her move to the Guggenheim is driven by the institution's prestige rather than political interference. Her leadership will be crucial as the Guggenheim navigates its global expansion and maintains its iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed flagship.