LAXART Founding Director Lauri Firstenberg Announces Departure

Lauri Firstenberg will leave her role as founding director of LAXART at the end of March 2016. She founded the Los Angeles-based nonprofit in 2005 while completing a Ph.D. in art and architectural history at Harvard University. Under her leadership, LAXART produced more than 500 experimental exhibitions, public art projects, discursive programs, and institutional partnerships through biennials and festivals. Deputy director Catherine Taft, who joined the organization in October 2015, will oversee programming for the remainder of the year while the board searches for a permanent successor. Firstenberg stated she is departing to pursue other career opportunities. The announcement was reported by ARTnews on February 18, 2016.