On the Rise: 24 Museum Curators and Art Leaders Who Took on New Appointments in Second Half of 2025

CULTURE TYPE reports on new appointments of Black curators and art leaders to gauge institutional representation, with an emphasis on art museums. Museum leaders, curators, and educators shape the management and intellectual direction of institutions, determine the art visitors see and the programming they experience and, by extension, whether audiences of color feel welcome and represented

NEW APPOINTMENTS: Pictured, clockwise from top left, Osei Bonsu, Tate Modern; Taylor Bythewood-Porter, Armory Center for the Arts; Raquel Monroe, Howard University; Yesomi Umolu of Nieuwe Instituut; Monica Caul, Walters Art Museum; Dorian Dayton, Dallas Contemporary; Maëlle Ebelle, Liu Shiming Foundation; and Cornelia Stokes, Museum of the African Diaspora and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

THE CULTURE TYPE ANNUAL LIST of new appointments among museum curators and art leaders is divided into two parts. This is the second installment for 2025, focusing on staffing announcements made in the last six months of the year, from July through December.

Hiring at art museums and other prominent nonprofits focused on visual art, including foundations, academic, and public sector institutions, inevitably takes place against the backdrop of available resources and programming and budget priorities. In 2025, economic uncertainty and the tenuous nature of federal arts grants under the second Trump administration upset longstanding funding models at art organizations across the United States. Major museums announced significant layoffs last year and more staff reductions have already occurred this year. Despite these challenges, select appointments including some newly created roles continued at institutions large and small.

Highlights of Black curator appointments made in late 2025 include Taylor Bythewood-Porter, who joined the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, Calif., as director of exhibitions. Corneliia Stokes became Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora, a newly created joint role at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Museum of the African Diaspora. Among international appointments, Yesomi Umolu was named general and artistic director at Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and just officially started March 1. In addition to curatorial roles, museums announced new appointments in education, public programs, human resources, development, and marketing.

Culture Type’s list includes leadership transitions at two longstanding Black institutions. Brandywine Workshop and Archives in Philadelphia, Pa., and the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston, Mass., have each brought on new directors following the more than 50-year tenures of their founding directors. On the academic front, Brandon Little was installed as interim director at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. In terms of HBCUs, Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts welcomed Raquel Monroe as dean.

Presented below, Culture Type’s list of new appointments made in the second half of 2025 features 24 new hires and promotions, including a few international announcements. The list is generally arranged according to the announcement dates. (The list is not comprehensive, but it is representative):

JULY

Brazier Watts at Arkansas Arts Council’s Artlinks Conference, October 2025. | Courtesy Arkansas Arts Council

Brazier Watts, Acting Director | Arkansas Arts Council, Little Rock, Ark.

On July 10, the Arkansas Arts Council named Brazier Watts interim director. Watts was elevated from within. She has been on staff at the council for more than 15 years, serving as a grants administrator and grants manager. “The creative sector accounts for about $3.8 billion in added value to our state’s overall economy,…but I believe that an even greater added value is the valuable effect that the arts have on people,” Watts said in a statement. “The arts improve and enhance the lives of Arkansans. The Arkansas Arts Council will strive to continue to reach people and communities by addressing the needs of artists, schools, arts organizations and other non-profit organizations across the state.”

Erik Ford. | Courtesy New Orleans Museum of Art

Erik Ford, Director of Human Resources. | New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, La.

Last summer, Erik Ford was named director of human resources at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). He started at the end of July. Ford is a military veteran from New Orleans with broad experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He career is anchored by 25 years as a senior human resource manager in the United States Navy. He joined NOMA from City Park Conservancy in New Orleans.

Ramon Amaro. | Photo: Tengbeh Kamara, Courtesy Design Academy Eindhoven

Ramon Amaro, Creative Director. | Design AcademyEindhoven, The Netherlands

Ramon Amaro became creative director of Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) in The Netherlands, where he was responsible for creative, academic, and institutional strategy and also served as Vice Chair Executive Board. The appointment was announced July 15, effective in September. Amaro is a curator and educator with an interdisciplinary background across engineering, sociology, art history, critical theory, and digital culture. Most recently, he was a senior researcher in digital culture at Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. He has taught art and visual cultures of the Global South at the University College of London (2020-22) and visual cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London (2017-20), where he earned his Ph.D. He is the author of “The Black Technical Object: On Machine Learning and the Aspiration of Black Being” (2023). Born in Detroit, Mich., Amaro began his career as a quality design engineer at General Motors. He joined DAE at a significant moment. The institution is embarking on a new chapter, cultivating its international partnerships and relocating in 2028 to a purpose-built campus in De Kanaalzone, Eindhoven’s new cultural district. On Feb. 2, 2026, DAE announced Amaro had stepped down, effective immediately.

AUGUST

Raquel Monroe. | Courtesy Howard University

Raquel Monroe, Dean, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. | Howard University, Washington, D.C.

Raquel Monroe is the new dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. She has been serving in the role since Aug. 4. Monroes joined the HBCU from the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Fine Arts, where she was a full professor and associate dean of graduate education and academic affairs (2022-25). Previously, she was a professor of dance and an administrator at Columbia College in Chicago. An administrator, scholar, and artist, Monroe is a founding board member of the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance and a member of the arts collective Propelled Animals. She earned a Ph.D., in culture and performance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and also holds a master of arts degree in communication and bachelor of arts degrees in dance and theatre, all from from Arizona State University. At Howard, Monroe is charged with overseeing academic, performance, and research programming for a range of disciplines, including visual arts and design, music, and theater arts.

Taylor Bythewood-Porter. | Courtesy Armory Center for the Arts

Taylor Bythewood-Porter, Director of Exhibitions. | Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, Calif.

The Armory Center for the Arts welcomed Taylor Bythewood-Porter as director of exhibitions in August. Her appointment was announced Aug. 18. Located Pasadena, Calif., in the Greater Los Angeles area, The Armory describes itself as a hybrid art museum and art school. Bythewood-Porter brings 10 years of curatorial and writing experience with a focus on history, material cultural, and Black feminist thought. Previously, she was curator of history at the Museum of Riverside in Riverside, Calif. Bythewood-Porter also spent six years at the California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles, where she was an assistant curator.

Maëlle Ebelle. | Photo by Cyrille Cauvet, Courtesy Liu Shiming Art Foundation

Maëlle Ebelle, Gallery Director and Curator. | The Liu Shiming Art Gallery, Liu Shiming Foundation, New York, N.Y.

Maëlle Ebelle is the inaugural gallery director and curator of the Liu Shiming Art Gallery in New York. The Liu Shiming Art Foundation announced the appointment on Aug. 13, effective in September. Born in France, Ebelle’s background includes more than a dozen years in the international art world, working with commercial art galleries throughout Europe. Most recently, she was a gallery director at Belle Ceysson & Bénétière. After more than six years with Belle Ceysson & Bénétière in Luxemborg (2017-23), she moved to New York to oversee its only U.S. location (2023-25). At Liu Shiming Art Gallery, Ebelle will curate exhibitions and develop publications. This year marks the centennial of Chinese artist Liu Shiming (1926-2010), whose sculpture is informed by traditional Chinese culture and French modernism. Ebelle is organizing exhibitions and programs throughout 2026 to honor his legacy.

“Liu Shiming’s vision of art as a bridge between communities and as a tool to celebrate the complexity of the human experience deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to build on his powerful legacy by curating exhibitions that not only showcase his remarkable work but also celebrate and challenge ideas of interconnectedness, cultural dialogue, and the evolving goals of our global society.” — Maëlle Ebelle

Olivia Dill. | Photo by Bill Dill, ASC

Olivia Dill, Assistant Curator, Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs | Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Md.

2025 was a pivotal year for Olivia Dill. She earned a Ph.D., in art history from Northwestern University (2025) and landed an assistant curator position in the Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The appointment was announced Aug. 19 and she officially started in October. Dill joined the Maryland museum from The Morgan Library & Museum in New York, where she was the Moore Curatorial Fellow. Previously, she was a fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (2022-24) and a curatorial intern at the Art Institute of Chicago (2020-21).

SEPTEMBER

Dorian Dayton. | Courtesy Dallas Contemporary

Dorian Dayton, Manager of Education and Visitor Experiences | Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, Texas

Dallas Contemporary (DC) announced the promotion of Dorian Dayton to manager of Education and Visitor Experiences in September. In the new role, Dayton is expected to “expand educational programming and design and lead hands-on gallery engagement, workshops, and new digital materials for teachers and students.” Dallas Contemporary is a non-collecting art space. An artist and educator, Dayton works with experimental video and photography. In 2024, he joined DC from NuMinds in Richardson, Texas, which enriches student learning through STEAM curriculum, special camps and programs, and teacher development. He previously served as visitor services manager at Dallas Contemporary.

Mark Chambers. | Photo by Alice Yu, Courtesy Terreform ONE

Mark Chambers, Executive Director. | Terreform ONE, Brooklyn, N.Y.

On Sept. 17, the ecological design group Terreform ONE announced the appointment of Mark Chambers as executive director. Chambers is a registered architect whose leadership spans environmental policy, social impact design, and urban innovation. Terreform ONE works at the intersection of research, public art, and design and has presented large-scale exhibitions at the Venice Biennale, Cooper Hewitt, and MASS MoCA. The national nonprofit is an “architecture and urban design group dedicated to combating species extinction through pioneering acts of ecological design.” Bringing two decades of experience, Chambers previously served as senior director for Building Emissions and Community Resilience at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Akiba Abaka. | Photo by Craig Bailey, Courtesy National Center of Afro-American Artists

Akiba Abaka, Interim Executive Drector. | National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, Mass.

The National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) named Akiba Abaka interim executive director. Abaka began the role on a part-time basis in July, before being appointed to the interim position. The news was announced Sept. 25. An arts leader, producer, and educator, Abaka brings two decades of experience rooted in theater. Previously, she was at ArtsEmerson at Emerson College, where she was a creative producer. Abaka is the founder and producing artistic director of the Up You Mighty Race, a theater production company. She is also co-artistic director of Akiba Abaka Arts & Entertainment Inc., whose projects include an international theater residency at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, and The Multiple Ports System, a process for developing the work of Black playwrights. NCAAA was founded by Elma Lewis in 1969. Abaka succeeded founding director Edmund Barry Gaither, who had led the center since 1969. An authority on Black Boston art and artists, Gaither is now the emeritus executive director of NCAAA. A spokesperson for the center said Abaka is expected to become the permanent executive director “once some financial goals are met.”

Lisa Franklin. | Courtesy National Women’s History Museum

Lisa Franklin, Chief Marketing Officer. | National Women’s History Museum, Washington, D.C.

Lisa Franklin is serving as the first-ever chief marketing officer of the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM). The appointment was announced Sept. 30. Franklin brings more than two decades of marketing and communication experience with leadership roles across global brands, pro sports, and the technology sector. She previously served as CMO of DC United and has also held senior roles at ThriveDX, Deloitte, Verizon/AOL, and Microsoft. Established in 1996, NWHM is a digital-first museum. The independent institution is separate from the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

Bruce English. | Courtesy Newfields

Bruce English, Chief People & Culture Officer. | Newfields, Indianapolis, Ind.

A human resources executive with nearly two decades of experience, Bruce English became chief people and culture officer at Newfields in September. Combining art and nature, Newfields is a 152-acre cultural campus, including expansive gardens, two historic homes, an amphitheater, sculpture park, and more, anchored by the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Most recently, English was vice president of human resources at CommuniCare and previously served as director of human resources at Assurance Health System (2017-22).

OCTOBER

Helen E. Barnett. | Photo by Amir Campbell, Courtesy Helen E. Barnett

Helen E. Barnett, Public Programs Manager. | Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, N.C.

On Oct. 1, Cameron Art Museum announced three new hires, including the appointment of Helen E. Barnett who joined the museum as public programs manager. She officially started in the role months earlier on Aug. 27. An artist and arts administrator, Barnett’s experience includes gallery management, curating, teaching, and event planning. She has been working with the Art Council of Wilmington & NHC (New Hanover County) for more than three years and earned an MFA in fine arts from the University of Delaware (2024).

NOVEMBER

Osei Bonsu. | Courtesy Tate Modern

Osei Bonsu, Senior Curator. | Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom

Osei Bonsu was appointed Jorge M. Pérez Senior Curator, International Art, Africa and Diaspora, at Tate Modern. The news was announced Nov. 3. A British-Ghanaian curator, critic and art historian, Bonsu joined the London museum in 2019 as curator of international art (Africa). He recently curated major exhibitions, including “A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography” (2023-24) and “Nigerian Modernism,” which is on view at Tate Modern through May 10, 2026. Bonsu’s new role was made possible by the generous support of Miami, Fla.-based collectors Jorge M. and Darlene Pérez, whose Tate contributions include a Joan Mitchell triptych, 36 works by artists from across Africa and the African diaspora, and a multi-million donation to endow the curatorial post.

“It is a real privilege to be appointed to this role, which offers a unique opportunity to build on Tate’s commitment to curatorial leadership and regional expertise.… I look forward to further expanding my research and networks across Africa and its global diaspora, and to sharing this work with visitors to Tate Modern.” — Osei Bonsu

Yolanda Y-O Latimore. | Courtesy Tubman African American Museum

Yolanda Y-O Latimore, Development Coordinator. | Tubman African American Museum, Macon, Ga.

On Nov. 4, the Tubman African American Museum announced Yolanda Y-O Latimore was taking on the role of development coordinator, effective immediately. Latimore is responsible for the museum’s fundraising initiatives and community engagement activities. She is a poet with a background in arts administration. In 2011, she founded Poetic Peace Arts, which supports poets and spoken-word artists. Latimore brings an array of experience across arts administration, grant writing, cultural programming, event coordination, and community organizing Located in Macon, Ga., the museum describes itself as the largest in the Southeastern United States dedicated to African American art, history, and culture.

Inga Harrington. | Courtesy Eiteljorg Museum

Inga Harrington, Vice President of People and Culture. | Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, Ind.

Inga Harrington was named vice president of People and Culture at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. The news was announced Nov. 6. Harrington joined the museum as director of human resources in 2024. The promotion follows a restructuring of the finance and administration divisions resulting in the newly created People and Culture department. A native of Indianapolis, Harrington previously served for more than two decades as human resources director at TCC Software Solutions (2000-2023). The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Ind., “explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America.”

Yesomi Umolu. | Photo: Luke Walker, Courtesy Nieuwe Instituut

Yesomi Umolu, General and Artistic Director. | Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

On Nov. 9, Nieuwe Instituut announced the appointment of Yesomi Umolu as general and artistic director, emphasizing her curatorial experience across art and architecture. Umolu joins the institute from Serpentine in London, where she was director of Curatorial Affairs and Public Practice (2021-25). She also served as artistic director of the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial and was a member of the curatorial advisory board for the U.S. Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2018. The Nieuwe Instituut is a national museum for art, architecture, and digital culture. Umolu officially started March 1.

Monica Caul. | Courtesy Walters Art Museum

Monica J. Caul, Senior Director of Human Resources. | Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Md.

On Nov. 12, the Walters Art Museum announced a trio of new leadership appointments, including Monica J. Caul who joined the museum as senior director of human resources. Her background includes more than two decades of human resources experience. Caul previously served as chief people and culture officer at KID Museum in Bethesda, Md. (2020-25), and vice president of human resources and administration (2001–19) at Bright MLS, Inc., the multiple listing service database for real estate agents.

Michele A. Parchment. | Courtesy Brandywine Workshop and Archives

Michele A. Parchment, Director of Gallery Services and Collection Support. | Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Philadelphia, Pa.

Michele A. Parchment took on a new role at Brandywine Workshop and Archives (BWA), director of gallery services and collection support, effective Nov. 25. She joined Brandywine as executive director in August 2023, becoming only the second person lead Brandywine, the storied print workshop where artists have been collaborating and experimenting with master printers since 1972. She succeeded artist and educator Allan L. Edmunds, the nonprofit’s founder and sole executive director. Parchment has more than three decades of experience working with museums and arts organizations across education, public programming, and exhibition and collection management. Previously, Parchment was a consultant to Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator in Miami, Fla.; director of public engagement at the Sarasota Art Museum at Ringling College of Arts and Design (2018-22) in Sarasota, Fla.; and worked in a variety of capacities at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in Charlotte, N.C. (2006-14).

Rebecca Morrison. | Courtesy Brandywine Workshop and Archives

Rebecca Morrison, Executive Director. | Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Philadelphia, Pa.

On Nov. 25, Brandywine Workshop and Archives (BWA) announced the appointment of Rebecca Morrison as its new executive director. Morrison has a business background with experience across strategy consulting, venture capital, and brand management. She spent nearly seven years at IBM (2017-23), most recently as a managing consultant. She earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is an adjunct professor at Fordham Gabelli School of Business. She was also the first curator of the Brooklyn hub of the Global Shapers Community, which grew out of the World Economic Forum (2022-23). At BWA, Morrison is focusing on strategic growth, operations, and sustainability. She succeeds Michele A. Parchment, who had served as executive director since August 2023, before transitioning into the role of director of gallery services and collection support. A nonprofit founded by Allan L. Edmunds in 1972, BWA focuses on fine art printmaking, supports artists through residencies, maintains a gallery space and permanent collection of more than 1,100 prints, and continues to evolve and expand its programming and reach.

DECEMBER

Ra Joy. | Courtesy Bronzeville Center for the Arts

Ra Joy, Executive Director. | Bronzeville Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisc.

On Dec. 3, Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) announced the appointment of Ra Joy as executive director. Joy has spent his career working at the intersection of the arts, public policy, and civic engagement. During the Biden-Harris administration he served as chief of staff at the National Endowment for the Arts. Previously, he was executive director of the nonpartisan Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics (CHANGE) Illinois. He was also executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois (2007-15). Joy joined Bronzeville Center for the Arts in December. He oversees the organization’s current programming, including exhibitions, education and makerspace opportunities, and artist and community engagement. He is also charged with leading BCA’s development of a new African American art museum. The project is well underway. The 3.4 acre museum site has been acquired and architect Michael Ford, FAIA, NOMA, founder of BrandNu Design Studio, is the lead designer in collaboration of Peter D. Cook, FAIA, NOMA, of HGA.

Brandon Little. | Courtesy Cranbrook Academy of Art

Brandon Little, Interim Director. | Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Cranbrook Academy of Art named Brandon Little interim director, effective Dec. 1. Little brings two decades of creative design and leadership experience. The appointment was announced Dec. 10. The founder and chief creative officer of Artefkt Watches, Little served on the Board of Governors of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook Art Museum (2024-25). Previously, he held senior roles at Bedrock Manufacturing and Shinola. He moved to Detroit in 2021. In an earlier role, he was senior vice president and chief creative officer for Fossil Group for eight years. Little succeeded Chris Whittey, who departed Cranbrook in November.

“I’m honored to help guide the Academy’s next chapter and support a community where artists, designers, and craftspeople push boundaries in a hands-on, co-creative environment that challenges the status quo and fuels truly unbound potential.” — Brandon Little

Cornelia Stokes. | Photo by Kelvin Bulluck

Cornelia Stokes, Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora. | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art & Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco

On Dec. 17, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) announced the joint appointment of Cornelia Stokes as the inaugural assistant curator of the Art of the African Diaspora. A curator, researcher, and educator, Stokes will serve in the newly created role across both San Francisco museums. Stokes brings more than a decade of experience working with artists and museums. In 2023, she established Emblazon Arts LLC, through which she works as an independent curator and provides curatorial consulting, working recently in this capacity with the estate of artist Donald Locke (1930-2010). Stokes also served as a research assistant in Amy Sherald’s studio. Her background includes a curatorial fellowship at NXTHVN and co-curating NXTHVN exhibitions. Stokes’s joint appointment officially started Jan. 5.

Bria Sterling-Wilson | Courtesy Baltimore City Mayor’s Office

Bria Sterling-Wilson, Deputy Director. | Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Baltimore, Md.

On Dec. 30. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced several new appointments, including Bria Sterling-Wilson. She was named Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment and started on Jan. 5. An artist who works in photography and collage, Sterling-Wilson’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions and featured in group shows. Ebony magazine commissioned her to create a collage portrait of Janelle Monáe for its March 2023 digital cover. Sterling-Wilson has participated in several residencies and earned a BFA in photography and digital art from Towson University in 2021. According to the announcement from the mayor’s office, Sterling-Wilson has an ambitious agenda, with priorities such as “advancing impactful arts programming, supporting Baltimore’s cultural workers, growing the city’s film and digital media presence, and championing partnerships that amplify the city’s diverse creative voices.” CT

FIND MORE Culture Type has previously reported on annual curatorial and arts leader appointments, dating from 2016

FIND MORE The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Ithaka S+R launched a new art museum director survey in 2025. The results were released last week. The foreword summarized the findings: Museum director said financial resources are their “most significant restraint,” they are “exploring alternative funding opportunities,” and “re-shaping their strategies to meet the moment and sustain their institutions moving forward.”

FIND MORE Since 2015, Mellon and Ithaka S+R have been surveying museum staff demographics to understand opportunities and representation in terms of age, race, and gender at the institutions. In November 2022, they released a third survey of North American art museum staff demographics.

FIND MORE Black Curators Matter: An Oral History Project was established by Columbia University Professor Kellie Jones focusing on visual art curators active over the past half century “who have played an important role in getting the museum and curatorial field to where it is today,” with interviews conducted by younger curators

EXPLORE MORE from Victoria L. Valentine and Culture Type on Instagram