Crystal Bridges appoints Courtenay Finn as chief curator after major expansion
Effective August 24, Courtenay Finn will take on the role of chief curator at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, including its contemporary section, the Momentary. Finn has an extensive background, having previously worked as chief curator and director of programs at the Orange County Museum of Art (now UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art). There, she oversaw curatorial efforts during the October 2022 launch of the new Morphosis-designed facility in Costa Mesa, acquired over 100 pieces for the permanent collection, and organized the 2025 California Biennial. She replaces Austen Barron Bailly, who became deputy director of curatorial affairs in February. Additionally, Ryan Owen and Shayne Hart were appointed as chief development officer and chief communications and marketing officer, respectively. These changes follow the recent opening of a 114,000-square-foot campus expansion in Bentonville, Arkansas, earlier in June.
Key facts
- Courtenay Finn appointed chief curator of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary
- Finn starts August 24
- Previously chief curator and director of programmes at Orange County Museum of Art (UC Irvine Langson OCMA)
- Led curatorial programme during opening of Morphosis-designed building in Costa Mesa, October 2022
- Secured acquisition of over 100 works for OCMA permanent collection
- Curated 2025 California Biennial 'Desperate, Scared, But Social' with Christopher Y. Lew and Lauren Leving
- Curated shows devoted to Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington, Fred Eversley, Alice Neel
- Previous roles: chief curator at MOCA Cleveland, senior curator at Aspen Art Museum, curator at Art in General
- Succeeds Austen Barron Bailly, promoted to deputy director of curatorial affairs in February
- Crystal Bridges also hired Ryan Owen as chief development officer (June 15) and Shayne Hart as chief communications and marketing officer (February)
- Crystal Bridges inaugurated a 114,000-sq.-ft expansion in Bentonville, Arkansas earlier in June
Entities
Artists
- Courtenay Finn
- Heidi Zuckerman
- Joan Brown
- Derek Fordjour
- Luchita Hurtado
- Christopher Y. Lew
- Lauren Leving
- Leonor Fini
- Leonora Carrington
- Fred Eversley
- Alice Neel
- Austen Barron Bailly
- Ryan Owen
- Shayne Hart
- Austen Bailly
- Yoshitomo
- Tony Lewis
- Yu Ji
- Rod Bigelow
Institutions
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
- Momentary
- Orange County Museum of Art
- UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
- Morphosis
- Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
- Aspen Art Museum
- Art in General
- University of California, Irvine
- moCa Cleveland
Locations
- Bentonville
- Arkansas
- California
- Costa Mesa
- Cleveland
- Aspen
- New York
- United States
- Ohio
- Colorado
- New York City
- Northwest Arkansas