Kate Kraczon
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has announced the appointment of Kate Kraczon as Chief Curator, effective June 15, 2026, marking a significant step in the Museum's vision for its next chapter. A nationally respected curator with more than two decades of experience leading contemporary art institutions, Kraczon will help shape an ambitious curatorial program centered on artistic excellence, contemporary relevance, and meaningful community connection.
Kraczon joins MAM at a pivotal moment as the Museum expands its commitment to presenting exhibitions that bring internationally recognized artists into dialogue with regional and emerging voices, while strengthening its role as an essential cultural gathering place for Montclair and the surrounding region.
In her role as Chief Curator, Kraczon will lead the Museum's exhibition strategy and collection initiatives, with an emphasis on contemporary art that speaks directly to the questions, experiences, and complexities of the present moment. Her appointment reflects MAM's broader vision to present exhibitions of the highest caliber while deepening public engagement and ensuring the Museum remains an integral part of community life.
"Kate is an exceptional curator whose vision aligns powerfully with where our institution is headed," said Todd Caissie, Interim Director of the Montclair Art Museum. "We are building a museum that presents great art and great exhibitions, particularly in contemporary art, while remaining deeply connected to the community we serve. Kate brings an extraordinary ability to work closely with artists, develop exhibitions that matter, and create experiences that resonate with audiences. She understands that museums can be both rigorous and welcoming, intellectually ambitious and profoundly human."
Kraczon joins MAM from Brown University, where she served as Director of Exhibitions and Chief Curator of the David Winton Bell Gallery (The Bell). In that role, she oversaw an exhibition program encompassing The Bell and its collection of more than 7,000 works, the Cohen Gallery in the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, and Brown University's Public Art program.
At Brown, Kraczon developed a dynamic exhibition program that connected international contemporary artists with regional communities through major commissions, interdisciplinary collaborations, and institutional partnerships. During her tenure, The Bell expanded its philanthropic support and established new partnerships with organizations including the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Terra Foundation for American Art, Villa Albertine / French Institute for Culture and Education, and the Institut Français.
Her exhibitions included a major new commission by Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme; a reimagining of Julien Creuzet's French Pavilion from the 2024 Venice Biennale; a newly commissioned film installation by Elisabeth Subrin; and a major survey of artist Franklin Williams. Under her leadership, The Bell developed collaborations with Performa in New York, Nottingham Contemporary, Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, and the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, among other institutions.
Prior to joining Brown in 2019, Kraczon served as Laporte Associate Curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, where she organized more than 30 exhibitions and published eight catalogues. Her projects included Ree Morton's first major U.S. retrospective in more than three decades and award-winning exhibitions featuring artists including Nicole Eisenman, Karla Black, Becky Suss, and Suki Seokyeong Kang.
"Kate brings extraordinary curatorial depth, global perspective, and a deep belief in the civic role museums can play," said Christine James, President of the Montclair Art Museum Board of Trustees. "As we think about the future, we are focused on building an institution that is artistically ambitious and deeply rooted in the life of this community. We want MAM to be a place where world-class exhibitions coexist with meaningful local connection, where internationally acclaimed artists and regional voices can be experienced together, and where people feel a genuine sense of belonging."
Kraczon said she sees MAM as uniquely positioned to advance a curatorial vision that combines artistic rigor with community relevance.
"Montclair Art Museum has a remarkable opportunity to build on its history while imagining what a museum can mean for audiences today," said Kraczon. "I am excited to work alongside Todd Caissie, the Board, and the Museum's talented team to create an exhibition program that is ambitious, generous, and deeply engaged with the world around us. I believe contemporary art is one of the most meaningful ways we make sense of our time, and I look forward to presenting exhibitions that bring globally recognized artists into conversation with regional voices, foreground artists' ideas, and invite people into experiences that feel relevant, challenging, and welcoming."
Kraczon's appointment follows the retirement of Dr. Gail Stavitsky, who served as MAM's Chief Curator for more than 30 years and organized more than 200 exhibitions during her distinguished tenure. Dr. Stavitsky will continue her relationship with the Museum as Chief Curator Emerita.
The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) champions American and Native American art—past and present. Through bold exhibitions, hands-on programs, and deep community ties, MAM sparks creativity, connection, and conversation. Guided by its core values of respect, collaboration, education, and inclusion, the Museum is a vibrant hub where art meets ideas, and everyone is invited.
