China Underground > Contemporary art in China: Exploring China's Flourishing Art Scene > Abby Chen Appointed Head of Contemporary Art Department at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Abby Chen Appointed Head of Contemporary Art Department at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Last Updated on 2020/10/31

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has named Abby Chen, an internationally recognized curator, educator, writer, and community organizer, to be the museum’s first head of department for contemporary art.

She will be joining the Asian Art Museum on
January 7, 2019.

Abby Chen Appointed Head of Contemporary Art Department at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Abby Chen and Jay Xu

“We are delighted to welcome Abby to the team because she is, above all, a bridge-builder. She builds bridges between audiences and art, between artists and institutions, and between institutions and important ideas and issues that we all confront today,” says Dr. Jay Xu, director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum.

Abby brings with her an exciting track record as the artistic director of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco (CCC).

Her transformation of the CCC over the last twelve years into a leading platform for contemporary art has earned her a reputation for leadership and vision in the art world.

At the CCC, she produced numerous risk-taking exhibitions, live experimental performances and impactful public art projects.

“I am thrilled to join my colleagues at this incredible moment for the Asian Art Museum,” says Chen. “Investing in new platforms, new spaces and new artists is a bold statement from a storied institution about how critical contemporary art is when engaging with shifting demographics and evolving imaginations.

I look forward to navigating these complicated issues that are relevant not only to a rapidly changing Asia and the wider world, but above all, here in the Bay Area.”

With its emphasis on contemporary art, Abby’s hiring is a key step in the ongoing Transformation Project, and she will be guiding an expanded team, including Dr. Karin Oen and Marc Mayer, whose impressive contributions on that front have built a remarkable foundation for the museum’s contemporary art department.

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