The Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College just landed a big fish. Kim Conaty, who spent nearly a decade as a curatorial powerhouse at New York's prestigious Whitney Museum, is packing her bags for Hanover, New Hampshire. She'll be taking the helm as the Hood's new director starting October 27.
Apparently, you can take the curator out of the big city, but you can't take the big-city experience out of the curator. Conaty joined the Whitney in 2017, specializing in drawings and prints, before ascending to chief curator this year. During her tenure, she orchestrated major exhibitions for art world heavyweights like Edward Hopper, Mary Corse, and Ruth Asawa. So, she knows her way around a masterpiece or three.
Now, she's the eighth person to lead the Hood Museum, stepping into some rather large shoes left by John Stomberg, who retired after a decade. Stomberg, among other things, oversaw a rather significant $50 million expansion that literally doubled the museum's size, reopening its doors in 2019. No pressure, Kim.
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Start Your News DetoxConaty, for her part, seems genuinely thrilled. She describes the Hood as a place where "discovery is prioritized" and believes it offers a welcoming gateway for anyone, regardless of their art background. With its shiny new building, robust collections, and a solid team, she's ready to steer the ship into its next chapter.
Dartmouth's chief academic and budget officer, Santiago Schnell, didn't hold back on the praise, calling Conaty an "exceptional leader and visionary curator." He's confident she understands how crucial art and beauty are to a university's very soul. And, perhaps more importantly, that she has the chops to craft the Hood's next strategic plan and deepen its ties to both scholarly pursuits and the local community.
Colleen Boggs, who led the search committee (and probably sighed with relief), noted that Conaty was a clear standout in a highly competitive field. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for the other candidates. But for Dartmouth, it means a strong advocate for the arts has arrived.
