Neal Benezra steps down as SFMOMA director after 20 years

After nearly 20 years, Neal Benezra has declared his resignation as the director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. His exit follows a challenging time for the museum, which was largely closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had to lay off over 30 percent of its workforce. The institution also dealt with issues regarding racial equity, highlighted by the departure of senior curator Gary Garrels in July 2020 after he referred to not collecting white artists as 'reverse discrimination,' and allegations from a former staff member that museum leadership 'weaponized their own black employees.' Benezra stated to the New York Times that these controversies were unrelated to his decision, though he recognized the museum's need to address racial injustice. During his leadership, he managed the 2016 expansion by Snøhetta, the addition of a Julie Mehretu mural in the lobby, and the loan of the Donald and Doris Fisher collection, along with significant acquisitions.