Chris Newth (Courtesy of Princeton University Art Museum)
The Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey has appointed Chris Newth as Associate Director for collections and exhibitions. He will assume the role in January 2020.
Newth currently serves as Senior Director for Exhibitions Strategy and Gallery Display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His new position will afford significant responsibility; he will head up the oversight and implementation of the museum’s curatorial, collections and exhibition strategy, including the execution of shows, art conservation, collections management, research, and budget planning.
Newth has expressed excitement about his appointment, “I look forward to partnering with the inspired leadership, curatorial and education teams at Princeton, particularly at this auspicious period of dynamic change, to deliver profound experiences with visual art to our visitors.”
In his current role at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Newth oversees the museum’s resources for around 30 exhibitions, 200 gallery installations and numerous renovation projects each year, including registration, conservation, curatorial, development, facilities, and technology.
Newth received his Bachelor of Arts with distinction in history from the University of Michigan, and his Master of Arts in art history, with a concentration in medieval art, from Boston University. He joined the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2002, and has held a host of different positions at the museum, including Manager of Exhibitions and Installations; Acting Chair, Arts of Asia, Oceania and Africa; Director of Curatorial Administration; Acting Chair, Contemporary Art; and Chief of Curatorial Administration.
In the near future, the Princeton museum is poised for rapid growth; it is moving to a new building currently being designed by the leading British architect, Sir David Adjaye. The new premises will provide more space for display of the collections, temporary exhibitions, collections study, education, and public amenities. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021. The Associate Director for Collections and Exhibitions will be a key partner in shaping the institution’s galleries, outreach and impact for this new phase of its existence.
“Chris’s deep experience in leading complex teams and projects in a leadership institution makes him ideally qualified for this essential role at the Princeton University Art Museum,” said James Steward, Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger Director, Class of 1976. “With our work to create a new facility designed by Sir David Adjaye, the coming years afford the opportunity and necessity to adopt new modes of inquiry and of project development that will draw on Chris’s expertise in delivering visionary experiences.”
Special exhibitions slated for the new year, are: “Life Magazine and the Power of Photography,” (Feb. 22-June 21, 2020), “Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings,” (March 7-June 14, 2020) and “Basquiat in the Studio: The Blue Ribbon Paintings,” (Oct. 3, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021).
Comments