The Museum of Contemporary Art announced today the selection of a new chief curator effective Sept. 1.
Helen Molesworth, “a distinguished scholar, writer, and curator,” joins MOCA from the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, where she has served for four years, “overseeing monographic and historical survey exhibitions and an emerging collection of contemporary art,” MOCA said in a statement on its website.
Molesworth joins MOCA as it finds itself “in the strongest position in its history following the recent success of the campaign by the museum’s board to raise its endowment to more than $100 million, the appointment of (museum) director Philippe Vergne in March this year and an expanding and renowned permanent collection of more than 6,800 works,” according to the statement.
Vergne added: “The word curator means to ‘care for,’ and Helen Molesworth is the perfect embodiment of caring for art, artists and audiences. Helen has a broad, generous and humble knowledge of art, artists, institutions and collections. Plus a passion for MOCA.
“She curates transversally; meaning that she does not follow beaten, fashionable paths but knows how to open new roads, diverse roads with integrity and rigor. She is a marvelous scholar and writer and knows how to listen, work and dialogue with artists,” Vergne said. “I know how deep an impact she is going to have on MOCA and on the Los Angeles art community.”
Molesworth said she was pleased to have been selected.
“I am honored to join MOCA, an institution whose stellar collection, record of groundbreaking exhibitions, and its core commitment to artists has been a lodestar for institutions of contemporary art around the world,” she said. “Los Angeles has become one of the leading cities for contemporary art and artists in the country and I am very excited at the prospect at working for and with such an extraordinary community.”
Molesworth succeeds former chief curator Paul Schimmel whose 22-year tenure lasting until 2012 “made an indelible mark on the legacy of the museum,” the statement said.
