Smithsonian American Art Museum Names New Director
The Smithsonian has announced that Lynda Roscoe Hartigan has been named the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Photo: Alex Paul. Courtesy Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
The Smithsonian has announced that Lynda Roscoe Hartigan has been named the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC. She will start her new role on 8 September.
Lynda Roscoe Hartigan is currently executive director and chief executive at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts. She was previously chief curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
‘Lynda is a visionary leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to American art, thoughtful scholarship and public engagement,’ said Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in a statement. ‘Having begun her career at the Smithsonian, she returns with deep curatorial knowledge and substantial experience that will guide the museum in the years ahead.’
Related content
Paris Photo Looks to Younger Collectors in Its Bicentenary Edition
British Library Announces New CEO
A New Hope for George Lucas’s $1 Billion Museum
News
Paris Photo Looks to Younger Collectors in Its Bicentenary Edition
As the fair marks 200 years of photography, its programme spans historical work, environmental concerns and AI-generated images
British Library Announces New CEO
The recently departed head of the UK Space Agency has been announced as the British Library’s new chief executive, as the institution emerges from a turbulent period and announces a new partnership with Netflix
A New Hope for George Lucas’s $1 Billion Museum
Far more than a home for Star Wars, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s new Los Angeles museum brings fine art, comics, illustration, photography and cinema together under the banner of ‘narrative art’
Powerhouse Parramatta Opens as Governance Questions Linger
The $915 million museum will open in November with a major festival and five inaugural exhibitions, as investigations into governance and procurement continue
-1.jpg%3F2026-09-17T16%3A44%3A23.891Z&w=3840&q=100)
Swedish Centre-Left Bloc Secures Slim Majority
Following a tight election, Sweden’s opposition bloc has secured a narrow victory over the outgoing right-wing bloc. What could it mean for the cultural sector?
Washington DC’s Kennedy Center Risks Fiscal Collapse
Internal documents obtained by The Washington Post warn that the Kennedy Center faces “fiscal collapse” within weeks, after ticket sales and fundraising plunged amid upheaval following Donald Trump’s takeover
Hungarian Government Scraps New National Gallery
The Hungarian government's decision to cancel construction of the New National Gallery has ended a major European cultural initiative, raising questions over its future
-1.jpg%3F2026-09-10T15%3A33%3A24.143Z&w=3840&q=100)
Qatar Museums to Build Dedicated Pavilion to Gerhard Richter
Qatar Museums will begin the creation of the Doha Pavilion, a new permanent structure to display the works of German artist Gerhard Richter
Lucien Smith, Art-Market Star of the 2010s, Dies at 37
American artist Lucien Smith, who rose rapidly to prominence in the 2010s and became a fixture of New York’s downtown art scene, has died aged 37
Japan Art Association Announces the 2026 Praemium Imperiale Prize Recipients
Jenny Holzer and Andy Goldsworthy are two of the five recipients of the 2026 Praemium Imperiale, the Japan Art Association’s prestigious international arts award.
Fundación Banco Santander Opens its Cultural Centre
The Faro Santander Museum opened its doors this week on the northern coast of Spain
Geles Cabrera, Pioneering Mexican Sculptor, Dies Age 100
The sculptor Geles Cabrera, best known for being Mexico’s first professional female sculptor, has passed away age 100
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Intel on the art market. Straight to your inbox.
