Kevin W. Tucker, former senior curator of decorative arts and design at the Dallas Museum of Art, will be the new chief curator at the High Museum of Art, the High announced Wednesday morning.
He will direct the High’s curatorial program and oversee installation, interpretation, research and development of the permanent collection. He will also oversee the re-installation of the permanent collection galleries, a major initiative at the High that will take place in 2018.
Tucker, 50, joins the High on June 1.
Tucker was a senior curator at the Texas museum for 12 years, from 2003 to 2015. A native of Columbia, S.C., he was chief curator and deputy director of the Columbia Museum of Art 2002-2003, where he had previously been the curator of decorative arts.
Most recently he was founding director of the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, currently under development in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“I look forward to working with Rand Suffolk and the museum’s exceptionally talented staff to lead new collaborative efforts to further both the reach and excellence of the High’s collections, exhibitions and other curatorial endeavors,” said Tucker, in a statement.
Rand Suffolk, director of the High, called Tucker “a wonderful fit for the leadership team,” and praised his “proven accomplishments and extensive experience as a curator and museum professional.”
The High’s previous chief curator, David Brenneman, stepped down in 2015 to become director of the Indiana University Art Museum. At the time Brenneman also served as the High’s director of collections and exhibitions and its curator of European art.
"I thought that was too much for any one person," said Suffolk. After promoting Amy Simon to run collections and exhibitions, he went looking for a chief curator and found Tucker. When he was director of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Suffolk knew of Tucker's reputation on the other side of the state line.
“Our decision to hire him was based on 20 years of incredible curatorial experience,” he said.
“With his strong connections to the South, he also brings an important appreciation for and understanding of our region’s cultural heritage, which is essential to our work.”
