MOCA dismisses chief curator Helen Molesworth amid conflicting statements

Helen Molesworth, chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, was terminated by director Philippe Vergne, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The museum's trustees publicly stated she was stepping down due to creative differences, but board member and artist Catherine Opie asserted Vergne admitted to firing Molesworth for undermining the institution. Molesworth had joined MOCA in 2014 after serving as a curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. During her time at MOCA, she organized highly praised retrospectives for Kerry James Marshall and Anna Maria Maiolino. She also curated exhibitions featuring artists such as Amy Sillman, Steve Locke, Josiah McElheny, and Catherine Opie. The dismissal highlights internal tensions at the museum, with conflicting narratives emerging from leadership and board members.