Ingrid Schaffner joins Hauser & Wirth as Curatorial Senior Director
Art World Gains a Notable Addition
In a significant move within the art world, Hauser & Wirth has welcomed Ingrid Schaffner, a distinguished art critic and curator, as their new Curatorial Senior Director. This exciting development sees Schaffner transitioning from her previous role as the curator of the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, to a prominent position at Hauser & Wirth’s Los Angeles outpost. As part of her role, Schaffner will curate exhibitions featuring the gallery’s impressive roster of West Coast artists and take on responsibilities as a writer and editor for its in-house publication, Ursula.
A Stellar Curatorial Journey
Schaffner’s arrival at Hauser & Wirth comes after a remarkable journey in the world of curatorial practice. With a strong focus on issues of feminism, representation, and alternate modernisms, she brings a unique perspective to the gallery. Prior to this new role, Schaffner spent an impressive fifteen years directing curatorial programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). She began her journey there as an adjunct and steadily rose to the position of Chief Curator. During her tenure, she achieved remarkable milestones, tripling the museum’s annual exhibitions and leading the 2014 fiftieth-anniversary exhibition, “ICA@50: Pleasing Artists and Publics Since 1963,” which featured fifty new projects inspired by the institution’s history.
Following her time at ICA, Schaffner took on the role of organizing the Fifty-Seventh Carnegie International at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Art in 2018. In 2020, she assumed the role of curator at the Chinati Foundation, where she oversaw its permanent collection, residency program, and publications. Additionally, Schaffner’s influence extended to the world of art criticism, as she contributed to renowned publications like Artforum, Art in America, Parkett, and Frieze. Her written work has also graced exhibition catalogues for numerous artists, including Marlene Dumas, Josiah McElheny, and Bruce Nauman.
A Trend in the Making
Schaffner’s decision to join Hauser & Wirth follows a noteworthy trend of curators departing from museums to join their commercial gallery counterparts. Notably, this trend includes Kate Fowle’s departure from MoMA PS1 and Tanya Barson’s exit from the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, both of whom now find themselves at Hauser & Wirth. This shift reflects the evolving landscape of the art world, where curators are increasingly finding new opportunities and challenges outside the traditional museum setting.
Hauser & Wirth’s Enthusiastic Welcome
Hauser & Wirth’s partner and executive director, Stacen Berg, expressed the gallery’s excitement about Schaffner’s appointment, stating, “We’re thrilled that Ingrid is joining Hauser & Wirth as Curatorial Senior Director, bringing her experience and expertise as a curator and writer, her noted talent for collaborating closely with artists, and her very special sensibility to the gallery.”
Ingrid Schaffner’s arrival at Hauser & Wirth undoubtedly adds a new dimension to the gallery’s already distinguished profile, promising exciting developments in the world of contemporary art in the years to come. Her expertise, vision, and commitment to fostering meaningful dialogues in art will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on the institution and the art world at large.
