Philip Tinari is leaving his role as director and CEO of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing after 14 years to become deputy director and head of art at Tai Kwun Culture & Arts in Hong Kong, starting February 23. He succeeds curator Pi Li, whose contract expires in February. Tinari oversaw UCCA's transition to a nonprofit museum in 2018 and its expansion with three new venues, including UCCA Dune, UCCA Edge, and UCCA Clay, while organizing major exhibitions of artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Cao Fei, and Anicka Yi.
This move signals a significant leadership change for two major contemporary art institutions in China. Tinari's appointment at Tai Kwun, a historic site in Hong Kong's Central district supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and government, is expected to raise its international profile as it approaches its 10th anniversary in 2028. His experience building UCCA into a globally respected institution positions him to strengthen Tai Kwun's programming and community engagement, underscoring Hong Kong's continued ambitions as a cultural hub.