MoMA Director Glenn Lowry to Advise Saudi-Backed Biennial After Departure

Glenn Lowry, the outgoing director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, will work as an advisor to the Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia, as disclosed in a recent interview. Lowry, who announced his decision to leave MoMA last September, will be succeeded by longtime prints and drawings curator Christophe Cherix. On the podcast The Art World: What If…?!, hosted by Charlotte Burns, Lowry elaborated on his post-MoMA plans, including advising the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi.

Lowry expressed his enduring interest in the Middle East, an area where his career began, highlighting the fascinating cultural activities in the region, especially the Gulf. A scholar of Islamic art, Lowry previously worked as a curator at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC.

The Islamic Arts Biennale is a project of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, launched by the Saudi Ministry of Culture as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s strategy to boost tourism and reduce dependence on oil. While praised for showcasing rare art treasures and contemporary practices from the Muslim world, the Biennale has been criticized for potentially “artwashing” Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record.

Lowry, familiar with navigating complex patronage systems, noted on the podcast the ambitious cultural projects in the Gulf and drew comparisons with historical cultural developments in the United States. Despite controversies surrounding MoMA’s board and patrons, Lowry defended their contributions to the institution.

In past interviews, Lowry has made clear his pragmatic approach to the art world’s ethical challenges, emphasizing that the support of patrons, regardless of their backgrounds, is vital as long as they uphold the museum’s mission. He acknowledged the complexities and compromises inherent in the art world, maintaining a focus on practical achievements over ideological purity.