Dr. Mariët Westermann Appointed First Female Director of Guggenheim Museum
Dr. Mariët Westermann has been appointed the new CEO and director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, marking a historic first as the institution's first female leader since its establishment in 1959. Previously the vice chancellor at NYU Abu Dhabi, a position she held since 2019, she takes over from Richard Armstrong, who departed last summer after a lengthy 14-year tenure. Westermann's extensive background includes leadership roles at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and NYU's Institute of Fine Arts, where she achieved her doctorate in art history. She will officially begin her role on June 1, 2024.
Key facts
- Dr. Mariët Westermann appointed director and CEO of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation
- First woman to lead the museum group since 1959
- Oversees foundation, New York museum, Peggy Guggenheim Collection Venice, Guggenheim Bilbao, and future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- Previously vice chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi since 2019
- Replaces Richard Armstrong, who retired after 14 years
- Former executive vice president at Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and director of Institute of Fine Arts at NYU
- PhD in art history from Institute of Fine Arts
- Abu Dhabi branch delayed from 2017 to 2026 amid labor criticism
- New York museum faced racism allegations, Sackler name removal, and unionization drive
- Start date: June 1, 2024
Entities
Artists
- Mariët Westermann
- Richard Armstrong
- J. Tomilson Hill
- Wole Soyinka
Institutions
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- NYU Abu Dhabi
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- Institute of Fine Arts at NYU
- New York Times
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
- Guggenheim Museum New York
- Mellon Foundation
- NYU Institute of Fine Arts
- Clark Art Institute
- Rutgers University
- Denver Art Museum
- Newark Museum
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Venice
- Italy
- Bilbao
- Spain
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- Denver
- Newark