MoMA PS1 Director Kate Fowle resigns after just three years in the role

2022-06-14T17:13:00-04:00

Kate Fowle, who became director of MoMA PS1 in 2019 and barely had the chance to lead the museum as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, abruptly announced on Friday that she was stepping down as of July 15 from the museum in Long Island City, Queens.

“This has been an extraordinary opportunity to lead MoMA PS1 over the last (nearly) three years and to work with all of you alongside our Board, patrons, and funders,” Fowle said in an email to museum staff according to The New York Times. “I want you to know that I have deep respect and admiration for you all, and that I am incredibly proud of all the work we have achieved together.”

Fowle hasn’t provided any reasoning behind her departure, however, an unnamed source told The New York Times that she had expressed difficulty managing her job during a meeting with MoMA PS1’s chair Sarah Arison and MoMA’s director Glenn D. Lowry.

While a lot of Fowle’s time has been spent mitigating the challenges brought by the pandemic throughout her brief tenure as director, there seemed to be a lot of optimism over her progressive vision for the museum. Shortly after her appointment in 2019, MoMA PS1 started a program called “Homeroom”, an exhibition space curated by community groups. Fowle also...

Kate Fowle announced as new Director of MoMA PS1

2019-06-26T14:43:00-04:00

Assuming her new role as Director of MoMA PS1 in September, Fowle will use her previous experience as Chief Curator at Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow and director of the Independent Curators International (ICI) to lead the institution. Her global curatorial expertise and directorial experience will allow her to continue with the museum's mission.

Since its founding in 1976, MoMA PS1 has grown to become the largest site for contemporary art in the nation and is considered to be one of the largest in the world. Upon receiving the news of her appointment, Fowle shared in MoMA's press release, "It's an honor to take the helm of MoMA PS1 at this juncture in its rich history, I look forward to working with the team and board to create a generative environment where our outlook is transformed through artists and their perspectives on the world."

Image © MoMA

Before her career as an accomplished curator, writer, and museum director, Fowle grew up in the U.K. and is a trained ar...

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MoMA PS1 Director Kate Fowle resigns after just three years in the role

Kate Fowle announced as new Director of MoMA PS1