Former MoMA Director Glenn Lowry Defends Trustee Leon Black Amid Epstein Controversy
Glenn Lowry, former director of the Museum of Modern Art, has publicly supported Leon Black, a current MoMA board member, despite ongoing scrutiny over Black's past connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Lowry, who led MoMA from 1995 to 2025, stated in a recent Wall Street Journal interview that Black has been a committed trustee and that the museum's board carefully reviewed his position before deciding he should remain. Black previously served as MoMA's board chair but stepped down from that role in 2021 following reports about his financial and personal ties to Epstein. In 2023, Black settled Epstein-related claims with the US Virgin Islands for $62.5 million. He and his wife Debra have been significant donors to MoMA, including a $40 million gift in 2018 for the museum's renovation. The controversy continues as Black faces requests to testify before congressional committees regarding Epstein's financial management.
Key facts
- Glenn Lowry defended Leon Black's role as a MoMA trustee despite Epstein connections
- Black stepped down as MoMA board chair in 2021 but remains on the board
- Black settled Epstein-related claims for $62.5 million in 2023
- Black and his wife donated $40 million to MoMA in 2018 for renovation
- Lowry cited Black's opposition to pandemic layoffs as evidence of his commitment
Entities
Institutions
- Museum of Modern Art
- Apollo Global Management
- Wall Street Journal
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Locations
- New York
- US Virgin Islands
Sources
- ARTnews —