Glenn Lowry's Post-MoMA Career Shift to Saudi Arabia's Islamic Arts Biennale and New Delhi Museum

Glenn Lowry, the former director of New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), has embarked on a significant career transition following his September retirement. The American art historian, who earned USD 2 million annually plus a USD 6 million housing allowance, is now advising Saudi Arabia's Islamic Arts Biennale scheduled for 2027. Lowry has also taken on an advisory role for Kiran Nadar's eponymous museum in New Delhi. Kiran Nadar is married to Shiv Nadar, India's wealthiest tech billionaire. This move occurs amid a global financial downturn affecting the art industry, with shrinking national budgets and populist governments creating challenges for institutional curators in the public sector. Lowry's pivot represents a notable shift from his previous position at one of the world's most prominent modern art institutions to involvement with cultural projects in emerging art markets.