The Watermill Center has appointed Charles Chemin as its new artistic director, succeeding the organization's late founder, Robert Wilson. Chemin, a long-time collaborator who first worked with Wilson in 1992, was hand-selected for the role by Wilson prior to his death in August 2025. He will lead the interdisciplinary laboratory's artistic vision alongside managing director Elise Herget and curator Noah Khoshbin.
This appointment marks a critical transition for the Long Island-based institution as it navigates its first leadership change following the passing of its iconic founder. Chemin’s deep history with the Center’s experimental "laboratory" spirit suggests a commitment to maintaining Wilson’s legacy of interdisciplinary dialogue while expanding the residency's reach to a new generation of contemporary artists.