Manuel Borja-Villel leaves Reina Sofía after 15 years

After 15 years in office, Manuel Borja-Villel has resigned as the director of Madrid's Museo Reina Sofía, completing two terms since his arrival in 2007, following his role at MACBA. He was appointed through a public competition organized by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Borja-Villel informed El País that he will not pursue the position of his successor. In the near future, he will co-curate the upcoming São Paulo Biennial. His leadership saw two significant collection reconfigurations, the latest being 'Vasos comunicantes. Colección 1881-2021' in 2021, showcasing works by renowned artists like Picasso and Dalí. He also achieved the 2011 Autonomy Law for administrative independence and acquired nearly 140,000 pieces in the Archivo La Fuente. The right-wing newspaper ABC raised concerns about the legitimacy of his mandate extensions in 2013 and 2018, which Borja-Villel claims were approved by the Ministry of Culture under the Popular Party. The museum has initiated a defamation lawsuit against ABC. Until a new director is appointed, Julián González Cid and Mabel Tapia will oversee the institution.