Massimiliano Gioni Appointed New Director of New Museum
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
July 8, 2026
In a landmark appointment that signals continuity and bold vision for one of New York’s most dynamic contemporary art institutions, Massimiliano Gioni has been named the next Toby Devan Lewis Director of the New Museum. Effective August 1, 2026, Gioni succeeds Lisa Phillips, who announced her retirement last fall after more than two decades of leadership. The move, announced today, positions the Italian-born curator—already a transformative figure at the museum—as its chief steward during a pivotal era of expansion and cultural reckoning.
Gioni, 53, first joined the New Museum in 2006 as a curator, rising through the ranks to become Associate Director and Director of Exhibitions before serving as Edlis Neeson Artistic Director since 2014. His deep institutional knowledge and global perspective make him a natural successor, yet the promotion also underscores the museum’s commitment to nurturing internal talent amid an increasingly competitive landscape for top museum leadership. Board President James-Keith Brown praised Gioni’s “visionary” contributions, noting how he has helped shape the New Museum into a leading international destination for contemporary art through groundbreaking exhibitions, strategic partnerships, and mentorship across the globe.
Born in Italy in 1973, Gioni brings a cosmopolitan sensibility honed by years of traversing artistic capitals. He has curated some of the most talked-about shows of the past two decades, including landmark presentations that blurred boundaries between emerging and established voices. Under his artistic direction, the museum championed artists pushing formal and conceptual edges—think rigorous explorations of identity, technology, and the human condition. His influence helped cement the New Museum’s reputation as a laboratory for ideas rather than a repository of objects, a philosophy that feels especially resonant today as institutions grapple with relevance in a fragmented cultural moment.
The timing of the appointment coincides with the museum’s recent 60,000-square-foot building expansion, which opened in March 2026 with the exhibition New Humans: Memories of the Future. That project doubled the institution’s exhibition space and introduced ambitious public programming. Gioni’s leadership will now guide how this physical growth translates into artistic ambition. Insiders suggest he aims to maintain the museum’s trademark edginess while broadening its audience and deepening community ties—priorities that have taken on new urgency following a two-year closure during renovations and subsequent efforts to rebuild attendance.
Gioni’s curatorial signature often favors the unexpected and the interdisciplinary. He co-directed the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013, titled The Encyclopedic Palace, a sprawling meditation on knowledge, obsession, and the limits of understanding that earned widespread acclaim. At the New Museum, exhibitions under his watch have introduced American audiences to vital international voices while recontextualizing canonical figures through fresh, sometimes provocative lenses. Colleagues describe him as a curator who listens as much as he directs—one who fosters dialogue between artists, scholars, and the public.
This appointment arrives at a fascinating inflection point for museums worldwide. Funding pressures, debates over cultural ownership, and questions of institutional relevance loom large. The New Museum, long known for its Bowery location and scrappy, forward-thinking ethos, has an opportunity under Gioni to model adaptive leadership. Early indications point to continued emphasis on emerging practices, global exchange, and exhibitions that engage pressing social issues without sacrificing aesthetic rigor. Gioni has expressed a desire to keep the museum “edgy” while ensuring it remains accessible and responsive to the city it calls home.
The broader art world has reacted with enthusiasm. Fellow curators and artists see the choice as validation of long-term dedication over flashy external hires. “Massimiliano has been the intellectual and creative heart of the New Museum for years,” one prominent gallerist noted. “This is not just succession planning—it’s a statement of confidence in the institution’s own ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Gioni will oversee a robust schedule of exhibitions and public programs. The museum’s commitment to living artists and experimental formats aligns perfectly with his track record. Expect deeper explorations of how art intersects with technology, migration, climate, and collective memory—themes that have threaded through his previous projects.
As the New Museum enters this new chapter, Gioni’s leadership promises to honor its rebellious roots while steering it toward a sustainable, impactful future. In an era where cultural institutions must justify their existence more than ever, his blend of scholarly depth, curatorial flair, and institutional loyalty offers a compelling model.
The art world will be watching closely. How Gioni balances innovation with stability could influence leadership trends at peer institutions for years to come. For now, the appointment feels like cause for celebration—a reminder that sometimes the best leaders are the ones who have already been shaping the conversation from within.
Read the official announcement from the New Museum here.
Explore Massimiliano Gioni’s past exhibitions and curatorial vision on the museum’s site.
Learn more about the recent building expansion and current shows at Artnet News.
Discover highlights from the 55th Venice Biennale curated by Gioni via archival coverage.
Follow ongoing coverage of New Museum programming on Hyperallergic.
Stay informed on the evolving story of contemporary art leadership. Subscribe to art world updates and visit the New Museum this fall to experience the vision of its new director firsthand—your next artistic revelation awaits on the Bowery.
The cover image in this article was AI-generated.
