Christophe Cherix Appointed as New Director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Christophe Cherix Named New Director of MoMA: A New Chapter Amid Turbulent Legacy
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of the world’s most influential modern art institutions, has officially announced Christophe Cherix as its next director. Cherix, a long-serving and highly respected curator within the museum’s own ranks, will take the helm in September 2025, transitioning from his current role as Chief Curator of Drawings and Prints. His appointment follows the departure of Glenn Lowry, MoMA’s director of 30 years, and marks a pivotal moment for the museum as it navigates increasing scrutiny regarding its leadership, governance, and social responsibilities.
A Scholarly Rise through the Ranks
Christophe Cherix brings both institutional continuity and curatorial prestige to his new role. Born in Switzerland and educated at the University of Geneva, Cherix began his curatorial career at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Geneva before joining MoMA in 2007. There, his expertise and deep commitment to modern and contemporary art quickly earned him recognition. He became Chief Curator of Prints and Illustrated Books in 2010, and later led the merged Department of Drawings and Prints starting in 2013.
Cherix has curated important exhibitions for luminaries such as Betye Saar, Marcel Broodthaers, and Jasper Johns, and is widely known for his thoughtful approach to incorporating underrepresented voices into significant and enduring museum narratives. His curatorial work often reflects a preference for inclusivity and measured dialogue—a trait that may shape the museum’s future direction.
A “Safe Choice” Amid Institutional Challenges
Cherix’s ascension is viewed by many as a stabilizing move during a time of heightened tension within MoMA and the broader art community. According to the museum’s official statement, Cherix was selected from “an international pool of impressive candidates,” though some observers consider the internal promotion an effort to maintain continuity without inviting further controversy.
His appointment ends months of speculation following Lowry’s fall 2023 resignation. Lowry’s decades-long directorship was both transformative and polarizing. While MoMA expanded its collections and global influence under his leadership, Lowry’s tenure was also mired by significant criticism over the institution’s affiliation with donors linked to human rights violations and fossil fuel investments.
During the 2021 “Strike MoMA” campaign, protestors condemned Lowry’s refusal to remove then-chairman and major donor Leon Black, who was implicated in financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Though Black eventually stepped down from his chairmanship, his continued presence on the board remains contentious. Similarly, in recent years, MoMA has faced rising public disapproval for hosting events like the World Jewish Congress gala amid the Gaza conflict, and for retaining board members connected to environmentally harmful private equity investments.
Cherix and the Ethics of Institutional Representation
Notably, Cherix has previously expressed a nuanced understanding of the museum’s role in social dialogues. In a 2017 interview with Hyperallergic about MoMA’s decision to feature work by artists from countries affected by the Trump administration’s travel ban, Cherix stressed the importance of inclusive representation without disrupting the museum’s traditional narrative. “It was more this idea of embracing those works within our tradition, within the narrative of our collection, within our values,” he said. His comments reflect a curatorial philosophy that seeks to elevate alternative perspectives without creating institutional rifts—an approach that may either soothe or frustrate more activist-minded sectors of the art world.
What’s Next for MoMA?
Cherix begins his new role as MoMA repositions itself within an art world increasingly defined by questions of equity, environmental responsibility, and transparent governance. As demands for accountability rise, MoMA’s leadership transition comes at a time when museums across the globe are being asked to align their curatorial programming with more progressive and ethical institutional practices.
The choice of an inward candidate may make it easier to maintain internal stability, but it also carries expectations that Cherix will be more than a custodian of tradition—he must be a visionary capable of responding to public demand for reform while training his curatorial lens on a rapidly evolving cultural landscape.
In the months ahead, all eyes will be on Cherix to see if he can balance the dual mandate of honoring MoMA’s storied legacy while steering it toward a more just and reflective future. How he handles ongoing controversies, board dynamics, and growing activist pressure will likely define the museum’s direction under his leadership.
If MoMA’s next chapter is written under the banner of inclusivity, ethical transparency, and broadened artistic discourse, Cherix may prove to be an ideal leader—balancing scholarly rigor with the openness needed to evolve one of the world’s leading art institutions in the 21st century.