Nicholas Cullinan Appointed Director of National Portrait Gallery, Succeeding Sandy Nairne

In spring 2015, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan will take over as the new director of the National Portrait Gallery, succeeding Sandy Nairne, who is stepping down to concentrate on writing and advisory projects. Cullinan has been the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York since 2013 and was previously the curator of International Modern Art at Tate Modern from 2007 to 2013. His notable exhibitions at Tate included Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs (2014) and Malevich (2014). Additionally, he played a key role in acquisitions and collection displays, and helped establish a committee for Russian and Eastern European art. The gallery's new building, designed by Herzog & De Meuron, will open in 2016. Cullinan's connection to the National Portrait Gallery dates back to his role as a part-time visitor services assistant from 2001 to 2003. His appointment was confirmed by the gallery's board of trustees.