Rhizome Appoints Makayla Bailey and Michael Connor as Co-Executive Directors

Rhizome, the digital art organization affiliated with the New Museum, has implemented a joint leadership model by naming Makayla Bailey and Michael Connor as its co-executive directors. Bailey previously served as Rhizome's development director, having joined the organization late last year after holding positions at MoMA, LAXART, and The Studio Museum in Harlem. Connor, who has been with Rhizome for nearly a decade, most recently held the artistic director role, having initially joined in 2013 as an editor and curator. Board chair Greg Pass described the appointment as a bold shift that reflects the organization's collaborative ethos while representing both continuity and change. Bailey emphasized the growing need for curatorial perspectives and equitable historical accounting in digital culture, particularly following the recent NFT boom. Connor noted Rhizome's significant impact on digital art and culture over the past decade and expressed the aim to broaden its reach and evolve into a more mature public institution. The shared leadership model presents an alternative to traditional power structures within arts organizations.