Kate Fowle, the director of MoMA PS1, has tendered her resignation effective June 10, after serving for less than three years. Her decision to leave was made without providing a specific reason. Fowle took on the role in 2019, bringing with her experience as the inaugural chief curator at Moscow’s Garage Museum of Contemporary Art.
Fowle will continue her duties until July 15, though she will remain involved in curating an upcoming exhibition by Daniel Lind-Ramos, scheduled for next spring. During her absence, an interim leadership team comprising Deputy Director Jose Ortiz, Director of External Affairs Molly Kurzius, and Director of Curatorial Affairs Ruba Katrib will manage the museum.
During Fowle’s directorship, MoMA PS1 faced significant challenges, including a closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a drastic reduction in both revenue and staff. The museum’s workforce was reduced from 64 to 17, though it has since increased to 55. Fowle’s tenure saw the organization operating on a modest budget of $7 to 8 million, starkly different from MoMA’s $135 million in 2021.
Fowle’s leadership was marked by notable exhibitions such as the 2020 show ‘Marking Time,’ focusing on mass incarceration, and the launch of community engagement initiatives like Homeroom and outdoor courtyard activations. However, her time at MoMA PS1 was not without controversy, as protests arose over board members’ financial links to military and prison industries.
Despite the sudden nature of her departure, as highlighted by her recent discussions of long-term plans with the New York Times, Fowle has garnered respect within New York’s art community. Former NYC Culture Commissioner Gonzalo Casals commended her contributions in a heartfelt Instagram post, praising her for challenging societal inequalities through contemporary art.
