After a 30-year tenure as director of New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Glenn Lowry is set to step down in 2025, leaving behind a legacy of expansion, growth, and institutional partnerships that significantly shaped the museum. Appointed in 1995, Lowry, an Islamic art specialist, led MoMA through major milestones, including the merger with the PS1 Center for Contemporary Art, multiple renovation projects, and an expansion of the museum’s collection and physical space, culminating in an endowment growth from $200 million to $1.7 billion. His leadership was marked by a push for inclusivity, with MoMA’s Contemporary and Modern Art Perspectives (C-MAP) program broadening the institution’s global art focus. Lowry’s controversial yet transformative tenure included moments of tension, such as union strikes and controversies surrounding board members like Leon Black. Despite occasional criticism for shifting the museum’s direction towards a more corporate model, Lowry’s impact on MoMA’s financial and cultural standing is undeniable. The museum’s board has now initiated an international search to find Lowry’s successor, with Thelma Golden, Melissa Chiu, and Franklin Sirmans seen as possible candidates. The new director will be tasked with maintaining MoMA’s prominence while navigating the shifting dynamics of museum leadership, fundraising, and diversity.
Selena Mattei