Massimiliano Gioni Named New Director of the New Museum in New York

The New Museum in New York has announced the appointment of Massimiliano Gioni as the museum’s next Toby Devan Lewis Director. The Italian curator, born in 1973, will officially take office on August 1, 2026, after having held various roles at the institution for nearly twenty years, where he joined in 2006 as a curator. He subsequently served as Associate Director and Director of Exhibitions, until his appointment as Edlis Neeson Artistic Director in 2014.

During his long tenure at the New Museum, Gioni has developed an exhibition program featuring solo shows dedicated to some of the most significant artists on the international contemporary scene, including John Akomfrah, Pawel Althamer, Ed Atkins, Lynda Benglis, Judy Chicago, Tacita Dean, Nicole Eisenman, Urs Fischer, Theaster Gates, Hans Haacke, Camille Henrot, Carsten Höller, Kahlil Joseph, Ragnar Kjartansson, Kapwani Kiwanga, Sarah Lucas, Gustav Metzger, Marta Minujín, Chris Ofili, Raymond Pettibon, Carol Rama, Faith Ringgold, Pipilotti Rist, Anri Sala, Peter Saul, Nari Ward, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

During his tenure as artistic director, he also curated numerous themed group exhibitions, including *After Nature* (2008), *Ostalgia* (2011), *Here and Elsewhere* (2014), *The Keeper* (2016), *Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America* ( 2021)—a project originally conceived by Okwui Enwezor and realized in collaboration with Naomi Beckwith, Glenn Ligon, and Mark Nash ; and *New Humans: Memories of the Future*, the first exhibition to utilize the entire museum expansion designed by OMA. In 2009, Gioni also established the New Museum Triennial, which opened with the exhibition *Younger Than Jesus*, curated alongside Lauren Cornell and Laura Hoptman.

In addition to his work at the New Museum, Gioni has curated numerous international exhibitions and biennials, including Manifesta 5 (2004, with Marta Kuzma), the 4th Berlin Biennale (2006, with Maurizio Cattelan and Ali Subotnick), the 8th Gwangju Biennale (2010), and the 55th Venice Biennale (2013).

The curator has collaborated with various international institutions, including the Nicola Trussardi Foundation in Milan, for which he has curated public art projects, solo, and group exhibitions since 2002; the Deste Foundation in Athens, with which he has worked since 2003; the Jumex Museum, where he curated *Appearance Stripped Bare: Desire and the Object in the Work of Marcel Duchamp and Jeff Koons, Even* (2019); the Aïshti Foundation in Beirut; The Store X in London; the Long Museum in Shanghai; the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and Qatar Museums in Doha, for which she has organized exhibitions dedicated to, among others, Takashi Murakami (2012), Jeff Koons (2021), Valentino (2022), and Pipilotti Rist (2024). These international activities have helped expand the New Museum’s presence on the global art scene.

Statements

“After an extensive international search, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Massimiliano Gioni to lead the New Museum in this new chapter,” said James-Keith Brown, Chair of the New Museum’s Board of Trustees. “Over the past twenty years, he has played an essential role in the Museum’s evolution as a leading international destination for contemporary art, thanks to the innovative exhibitions he has conceived, the institutional partnerships he has established, the mentorship he has provided to colleagues, and the relationships he has built around the world. Massimiliano is a visionary curator and will be an exemplary director, embodying what the institution’s founder, Marcia Tucker, once described as ‘a truly exceptional person, with a deep curiosity about the world and the people who inhabit it—an interest that embraces everything and everyone.’ He is the ideal leader to guide the New Museum into a new era on our recently expanded campus.”

“It is an immense honor to have been called upon to lead the New Museum, following in the footsteps of giants such as Marcia Tucker and Lisa Phillips,” said Massimiliano Gioni. “I am grateful to the Board of Directors, the selection committee, and James-Keith Brown, our Board Chair, for entrusting me with both the institution’s distinguished legacy and the tools to shape an exciting future. I view this appointment not so much as a recognition of my own work, but rather as a vote of confidence in our entire institution and its staff. I am grateful to the many artists, colleagues, and supporters who have collectively helped make the New Museum the globally respected and beloved institution that we are so proud to call home.”

Massimiliano Gioni Named New Director of the New Museum in New York

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.