Guggenheim Museum Appoints its First Female Director and CEO

The Board of Guggenheim has named Dr. Mariët Westermann as the new Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, marking her as the first woman to hold this esteemed position.

Dr. Westermann is set to officially join the Guggenheim on June 1, 2024. Westermann succeeds Richard Armstrong, who served as the Director of the Guggenheim Foundation for nearly 15 years until his retirement this past spring.

“It is a great honor to be joining the Guggenheim, a unique institution with a beautiful mission dedicated to modern and contemporary art in four distinctive museums on three continents,” Westermann expressed.

Westermann initiated her career by teaching art history at Rutgers University and subsequently served in various prominent roles, including Director of NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, Director of the Clark Art Institute, and Executive Vice President at the Mellon Foundation. Most recently, she led NYU Abu Dhabi as Vice Chancellor, Chief Executive, and Professor of Arts and Humanities.

Tomilson Hill, the Chair of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation Board of Trustees and a billionaire hedge fund manager, stated, “We cast a very wide net and interviewed extensively to identify the right person for the Guggenheim at this time. Dr. Westermann brings a unique set of qualities and experiences to this critical role—a wide-ranging world view, experience in navigating multiple stakeholders and critical issues across geographies, all rooted in a deeply held belief in scholarship, excellence, and the power of arts and culture to inspire and connect.”

Have you read?
Report: These Are The Most Eaten Foods in the World, 2023.
Most expensive cars in the world, 2023.
These Are the Richest Cities in the World, 2023.
Richest Professional Football Clubs In The World, 2023.
25 of the world’s oldest billionaires in 2023, ranked.