Lisa Phillips to Retire as New Museum Director in 2026 After 26-Year Tenure

Lisa Phillips will conclude her 26-year leadership of the New Museum in New York, stepping down in April 2026. Her appointment in 1999 followed two decades as a curator at the Whitney Museum, making her only the second director in the institution's history. During her tenure, she supervised more than 200 exhibitions and launched innovative programs including the Museum as Hub, the IdeasCity Festival, and the NEW INC cultural incubator. Phillips also directed two significant construction projects: the museum's current building completed in 2007 and an ongoing expansion set to open this autumn. Upon retirement, she will assume the title of director emeritus. The New Museum will begin an international search for her successor this month. Phillips described her time leading the museum as a tremendous honor, praising the board, staff, and curators for their commitment to exploring new futures. She believes the reopening of the expanded campus provides an ideal moment to transition leadership to a new generation.