After an international search for its next leader, the Clark Art Institute chose one of its own when it announced Thursday that Esther Bell has been named the institute\u2019s next Hardymon Director. <\/p>\n
Bell, who currently serves as the Williamstown museum\u2019s deputy director and chief curator, will become the first woman to lead the Clark when she officially takes the reins on July 1. She succeeds Olivier Meslay, who announced his departure from the museum last fall. <\/p>\n
Denise Littlefield Sobel, chairman of the Clark\u2019s board, praised Bell\u2019s work at the Clark and her \u201ccareer of recognized excellence in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is a consummate professional, a collaborative member of the Clark\u2019s senior staff, and has honed her directorial acumen,\u201d Sobel said in a statement. \u201cWe look forward to her leading the Clark to even greater success in her new position.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bell, who will become the institute\u2019s sixth director in its 70-year history, originally joined the Clark\u2019s staff in 2017 and was named deputy director in 2022. She has played a critical role in the care and growth of the museum\u2019s collection, which recently received a major gift<\/a> from the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation that included some 330 artworks alongside $45 million in associated funding. <\/p>\n Get Starting Point<\/p>\n A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n Bell first arrived at the Clark as a graduate student at nearby Williams College. As curator, she has organized numerous special exhibitions, including \u201cRenoir: The Body, The Senses,\u201d \u201cPromenades on Paper: Eighteenth-Century French Drawings from the Biblioth\u00e8que Nationale de France,\u201d and the upcoming \u201cAn Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI am delighted to know that the Clark\u2019s next chapter will be entrusted to Esther\u2019s exceedingly capable hands,\u201d Meslay said in a statement. \u201cShe is a respected museum leader, an impressive scholar, and a passionate advocate for the arts.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to her curatorial work, Bell has overseen an expansion of the museum\u2019s public programming with the establishment of the Clark\u2019s Division of Learning and Engagement. <\/p>\n Prior to her arrival at the Clark, she worked as a curator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Cincinnati Art Museum. <\/p>\n Bell said she was honored.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to being a part of an exciting future for the Clark as we dedicate ourselves to ensuring that the Institute will always be a welcoming place of contemplation, inspiration, and education for all,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cAs we continue to grow our campus and our collections, we recognize the significance of ensuring that we steward the Clark\u2019s remarkable resources with care, consideration, and commitment to fulfill our mission of extending the public\u2019s appreciation of art.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm Gay can be reached at malcolm.gay@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @malcolmgay<\/a>.<\/p>\n