Leadership Turmoil at Asia Society Museum and NTU Centre for Contemporary Art

Yasufumi Nakamori, director of the Asia Society Museum in New York, disappeared unexpectedly in May 2025 just before the institution's major gala fundraiser. Nakamori, a former lawyer who became the museum's director in mid-2023, left without warning. Following his departure, curator Beth Citron also exited the Asia Society in March 2024 to lead New York nonprofit Artis, which supports Israeli contemporary artists. The Asia Society, historically funded by the Rockefeller family, now faces uncertainty about its leadership. Meanwhile, at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Art, director Karin Oen-Lee may soon depart. Oen-Lee, who earned a PhD from MIT in art and architecture history, succeeded founding director Ute Meta-Bauer in summer 2024 after serving as deputy director from 2019-2021. Despite her qualifications and dedication to administrative work, NTU has refused to promote her from lecturer to professor. Rumors suggest American universities are actively recruiting Oen-Lee with offers of the academic title she seeks.