After a 10-month selection process, the New Museum in Manhattan has named Massimiliano Gioni as its next director. He steps into the role after serving as the museum's artistic director for 12 years, following Lisa Phillips, who led the institution for 26 years.
Gioni brings two decades of curatorial experience to the position. At the New Museum, he helped launch the New Museum Triennial in 2009 and organized major solo presentations for artists such as Lynda Benglis, Judy Chicago, Theaster Gates, Faith Ringgold, and Arthur Jafa. He also played a central role in shaping exhibitions that explored the relationship between art, memory, and technology.
His recent projects include New Humans: Memories of the Future, the inaugural exhibition for the museum's OMA-designed expansion, which examined how emerging technologies may reshape ideas of humanity. He is also co-curating a major survey of Arthur Jafa set to open later this year.
Born near Milan, Gioni began his career at Flash Art in 2000 and later moved to the United States as an editor. He went on to co-create The Wrong Gallery in Chelsea and has held leadership roles at the Nicola Trussardi Foundation in Milan since 2002. His international curatorial record also includes the Venice Biennale, Manifesta, Berlin Biennale, and Gwangju Biennale.
In his statement, Gioni described the appointment as a sign of confidence in the museum's broader community, highlighting the collective work of artists, staff, and supporters. His new leadership signals a future shaped by ambitious exhibitions, global dialogue, and fresh ways of connecting contemporary art with the public.
