Julián Zugazagoitia

El Museo del Barrio, representing the diversity of art and cultures of the Caribbean and Latin America in New York, appointed on November 2002 Julián Zugazagoitia as Director and CEO, and he thus became one of the youngest directors of a major cultural institution in the United States. Since then Julian has not only enhanced El Museo’s national and international visibility but has also repositioned the Museum as the leading Latino cultural institution in New York. His major initiatives have included developing and implementing an all encompassing strategic plan, increasing the number and vibrancy of public, educational, family and community programs, and successfully launching the fully-funded $28 million capital campaign for the renovation and expansion of El Museo.  During his tenure, El Museo’s annual operating budget has more than doubled from less than $3 million to over $6 million, its endowment has increased two-fold to over $2.4 million, and individual and foundation giving have tripled.  He has been the driving force behind a revitalization of the board of trustees, attracting an internationally diverse group of high-potential new board members, and he has reenergized the staff by appointing high-caliber personnel to key positions. As a consequence, attendance at El Museo’s galleries and events soared to over 123,000 in 2007 (from 20,000 ten years ago). Currently El Museo is organizing its 40th year anniversary celebrations, which will include a new and enhanced website, a new overall branding strategy, and the relaunching of El Museo’s renewed facilities and galleries.

Prior to his appointment at El Museo, he served as the Executive Assistant to Thomas Krens, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. There, among other projects, he organized the exhibition “Brazil: Body and Soul” and conducted the feasibility study of a Guggenheim Museum in Rio de Janeiro.  Before moving to the US, he worked for the Getty Conservation Institute, developing projects in Africa and Europe. Highlights include organizing the blockbuster exhibition “Nefertari Light of Egypt” (Italy 1994/5) and launching the conservation project of the Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin. He curated “Passione per la Vita,” a retrospective of Mexican 20th century art (Naples, 1997) and was the artistic director for visual arts of the Spoleto Festival in Italy (1997-99). Zugazagoitia also held a diplomatic position as Mexican Cultural Attaché for UNESCO.

In 2002 he was a guest curator of the 25th Sao Paolo Biennial, presenting the section on New York artists.  In addition, in 2005 he was one of the two commissioners of the program of Mexico, the guest country for that year at the prestigious international art fair ARCO in Madrid.

He received his Ph.D. in Aesthetics from the Sorbonne (Paris IV) and graduated in art history from the École du Louvre, Paris.  His publication, L’oeuvre d’art Totale, Gallimard, Paris 2003, a collective book on the “Total Work of Art,” springs from his Ph.D thesis and a lecture series organized with Jean Galard presented at the Louvre and at the Guggenheim Museum in 2002.

Currently, he is active on various boards of cultural organizations in New York and internationally.  Zugazagoitia was awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in March 2005.