Philippe Vergne Steps Down as MOCA Director Amid Fundraising Criticisms

Philippe Vergne will leave his role as director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles when his contract ends in March 2019, following a mutual decision not to renew. Appointed in 2014, Vergne expanded full-time staff from 42 to 60 but faced scrutiny over fundraising shortfalls, including an unmet $150 million capital campaign goal and an endowment now around $125 million. His tenure also included the controversial firing of chief curator Helen Molesworth, who had organized solo shows for Kerry James Marshall and Anna Maria Maiolino, citing artistic differences. Previously, Vergne served six years as director of the Dia Art Foundation, where he was criticized for failing to secure funding for a Manhattan space and deaccessioning $38.4 million in artworks. In a statement, Vergne expressed pride in achieving artistic and educational programs that contributed to MOCA's financial stability and audience growth, pledging to ensure a smooth transition. He succeeded Jeffrey Deitch, whose directorship after the 2008 financial crisis was marked by controversy.