Adam Weinberg, the director of New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, is stepping down after 20 years of leading the institution.
Weinberg, who has held leadership positions at the museum for 30 years, will be replaced by Scott Rothkopf from 1 November.
Rothkopf is currently the Whitney Museum‘s senior deputy director and chief curator. He and Weinberg will work together on the transition.
Weinberg, who will become the Whitney’s director emeritus, said leading the museum “has been the greatest joy and privilege of my life”.
“Even as I now step aside to take on new opportunities in the cultural community, as everyone knows, my heart will always be with the Whitney,” he added.
Weinberg oversaw the relocation of the Whitney in 2015 from the Upper East Side to the Meatpacking District in a new building designed by Renzo Piano.
Under his leadership, annual attendance at the museum grew from 400,000 to 1.2 million, pre-pandemic. He also led the presentation of more than 300 exhibitions, and brought nearly 4,000 works into the Whitney’s collection.
Weinberg joined the institution back in 1989 as the director of a branch at the Equitable Center, and has worked mostly for the museum since then.
He left for a short time to serve as the director of the American Center in Paris and the Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, Massachusetts.
Scott Rothkopf to serve as new director
Rothkopf joined the Whitney as a curator in 2009 and was promoted to its curator and associate director of programs in 2012.
Following the launch of the museum’s new building in 2015, he became the deputy director for programs and chief curator. He was appointed as the Whitney’s senior deputy director in 2018.
“I am tremendously grateful to the board for the opportunity to further serve this extraordinary institution and to build on Adam’s remarkable legacy,” he said.
“We’re extremely well poised for the next chapter, which promises to be more vital and relevant than ever.”
Images: Whitney Museum of American Art
