Carnegie Museum of Art appoints Eric Crosby as director

Eric Crosby has been appointed The Henry J. Heinz II Director of the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.

Previously the Richard Armstrong Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, he served as museum’s acting director since January 2019.

“Eric has a deep commitment to the mission of Carnegie Museums and a clear understanding of what it will take to build on the distinctive strengths of the Carnegie Museum of Art,” said Steven Knapp, president and CEO of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, in a statement.

Knapp praised Crosby’s skills and creativity as a curator and said the past year he has proved his ability to lead the museum’s talented staff into the future,” Knapp said.

Some of his accomplishments include organizing a number of exhibitions, including “20/20: The Studio Museum in Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art,” a collaborative group exhibition in 2017. Crosby has also managed the museum’s Forum series, which showcases the work of both emerging and established artists in a lobby gallery.

"I think there is a fear among some people, art historians especially, of how physical a painting is, of the physicality of paint." —#ElizabethMurray.

Don't Be Cruel is on view in Crossroads: Carnegie Museum of Art's Collection, 1945–Now. #CMOAcollects pic.twitter.com/BoTbvugJGl

— CMOA (@cmoa) January 30, 2020

He will help the museum prepare for the next Carnegie International, the oldest survey of contemporary art in the United States. The 58th edition of the exhibition is scheduled for 2022.

“For nearly 125 years, the museum has presented significant artworks from across the globe and inspired visitors through its exhibitions and collections,” Crosby said in a statement. “In this new chapter, I will continue to champion curatorial projects and educational initiatives that provoke critical conversations about our world and respond to the key social issues of our time, driving forward our team’s desire to redefine the role of art museums in the 21st century.”

Ellen Kessler, a Carnegie Museums life trustee and chair of the Carnegie Museum of Art advisory board, cited Crosby’s passion for the museum, the city of Pittsburgh, and the greater arts community.

“He has proven to be an inspiring and engaging leader, and our advisory board is excited to continue working with and supporting Eric and his team as they lead the museum forward,” Kessler said.

Prior to joining Carnegie Museum of Art in 2015, Crosby was associate curator of visual arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.