We’ve got a Chief Curator!

Last week we announced that Julian Cox has been appointed our new Chief Curator. With 25 years of museum experience, the British-born Cox—who is currently the Chief Curator and Founding Curator of Photography for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF)—begins at the AGO in January 2018, pending approval of authorization to work in Canada. In his capacity as Chief Curator, Julian will also become the Gallery’s second Deputy Director, joining Alicia Vandermeer, Deputy Director and Chief Advancement Officer.

Stephan Jost, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO, had this to say about the appointment: “Julian is joining us at a pivotal moment in the AGO’s history. “We face exciting opportunities as our audiences expand and we continue our evolution into a 21^st century museum. His strong leadership and curatorial sensibilities will help us ignite and sustain passionate and timely conversations through art, both locally and globally.”

Since 2010, Julian has directed FAMSF’s renowned curatorial team working across two museums, the de Young and the Legion of Honor. As Chief Curator, he led curatorial activities in art of the Americas, Oceania and Africa, Ancient art, European Paintings and European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Prints and Drawings, American art, contemporary art and international textiles and costume. He has also overseen FAMSF’s conservation, library and publications staff.

Julian has also published and lectured extensively, giving recent presentations on American civil rights and media culture at the Cincinnati FotoFocus Biennial and on photography and social activism at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Here at the AGO, Julian will lead our curatorial team in designing meaningful art experiences that embrace multiple—and often challenging—points of view. He will focus on exhibition planning in addition to developing the AGO’s significant collections, positioning Toronto and Ontario’s rich artistic landscape in the widest context possible to ensure the Gallery is inclusive and welcoming, and better reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

But let’s hear it in his own words. Julian told us, “I’m thrilled to be joining the AGO, and I look forward to working closely with its talented staff and ambitious Board, who share a mutual commitment to seeing the institution increase its impact on the national and international stage. Toronto’s vibrant civic energy and dynamic multicultural character are immensely appealing to me. There will be much to learn and experience, and I can’t wait to get started.”

We can’t wait either! Stay tuned for more of an introduction to Julian in the New Year when he lands in Toronto.

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