Hammer Museum Director Ann Philbin Announces Retirement After 25-Year Tenure

Ann Philbin is set to retire from her role as director of the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles in November 2024, marking the end of a remarkable 25-year tenure. Since taking the helm in 1999, she has propelled the museum to global recognition through various initiatives, including the biennial 'Made in LA' series and a significant expansion project that began in 2018. This expansion was completed in March with the inauguration of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Cultural Center, designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, which increased gallery space by 60 percent. Prior to her time at the Hammer, Philbin directed New York's Drawing Center from 1990 to 1999, where she introduced innovative exhibitions, such as Nicole Eisenman's first solo show. Notable exhibitions she curated at the Hammer include the 2003 retrospective of Lee Bontecou, in collaboration with Elizabeth Smith from MCA Chicago, and the 2000 showcase of Lee Mullican's drawings. In 2014, she introduced free admission and will oversee the exhibition 'Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice' in her final year, part of the Getty-funded PST ART: Art and Science Collide initiative. Philbin referred to her time at the museum as 'the privilege of a lifetime,' highlighting her commitment to establishing a 'true artists' museum' for Los Angeles.