Buffalo AKG Museum Splits Leadership Into Two Co-Director Roles
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum has appointed Jillian Jones and Cathleen Chaffee as co-directors, succeeding Janne Sirén after his 13-year leadership. Effective November 1, Jones, the former deputy director and local Buffalo native, will assume the role of executive director. Chaffee, who previously served as chief curator, takes on the position of artistic director. This transition, approved by board president Alice Jacobs, seeks to align artistic and operational visions. Under their leadership, the museum, which boasts 185 staff and an annual budget of $16.5 million, plans to initiate a five-year strategic plan this fall.
Key facts
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum splits leadership into two co-director roles.
- Jillian Jones named executive director, Cathleen Chaffee named artistic director.
- They replace Janne Sirén, who steps down at end of October after 13 years.
- Both were promoted internally; Jones joined in 2015, Chaffee in 2014.
- Board president Alice Jacobs spearheaded the new structure.
- Jones led a $230m capital campaign for campus transformation by OMA's Shohei Shigematsu, opened 2023.
- Chaffee organized first large US museum surveys for Stanley Whitney, Joe Bradley, Erin Shirreff.
- Chaffee oversees the Marisol estate of over 700 works.
- Museum has 185 employees, $16.5m annual budget, $183m endowment.
- Annual attendance ~220,000, 43% above projections; 30% used free programs.
- Co-directors to launch five-year strategic plan this autumn.
Entities
Artists
- Stanley Whitney
- Joe Bradley
- Erin Shirreff
- Marisol
- Cathleen Chaffee
- Jillian Jones
- Cornelia Bentley Sage Quinton
- Janne Sirén
Institutions
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- Yale University Art Gallery
- New York University's Institute of Fine Arts
- George Washington University
- OMA
- Albright-Knox
Locations
- Buffalo
- New York
- United States
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- New York City
- New Haven