The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles has appointed Michael Wellen as its new chief curator and Regan Pro as chief of learning, engagement, and research. Wellen joins from Tate Modern, while Pro was previously at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The appointments fill key leadership roles that had been vacant, with the chief curator position open since 2023.
These hires signal a strategic consolidation of the museum's public programming and a reinforcement of its curatorial vision under director Zoë Ryan. The creation of Pro's new department aims to better integrate the Hammer's influential exhibitions with its community-focused public programs, strengthening its identity as an institution deeply rooted in Los Angeles while maintaining an international perspective.