The McNay Art Museum board of trustees on Dec. 15 confirmed the appointment of Matthew McLendon to serve as the museum’s fourth director in its 68-year history.
McLendon comes to the McNay from The Fralin Museum of Art at The University of Virginia, where he served as the J. Sanford Miller Family director and chief curator since 2017, a news release said.
McLendon will assume leadership duties at the McNay on February 13, 2023. Last summer, current Director Richard Aste announced his plan to move to California in early 2023. Aste will remain in his role through Feb. 10, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership for the museum, the release said.
A search committee appointed by the McNay board and led by committee co-chairs Amy Stieren and Darryl Byrd identified McLendon as the ideal candidate to serve as the next McNay director.
“[McLendon’s] dynamic experience as an art historian, museum director and curator will strengthen the McNay Art Museum’s position as a global destination for modern and contemporary art,” museum board President Don Frost said. “We are confident that his expertise and strong commitment to civic engagement will advance the museum’s vision of becoming a place of belonging for our diverse community.”
The release said McLendon is widely recognized for his emphasis on community engagement and education, advocacy of cross-disciplinary programming, and amplifying underrepresented and marginalized voices in the museum setting.
At The Fralin, McLendon focused on invigorating the museum within the university and its wider constituencies. Museum attendance and major support increased and diversified dramatically during his tenure, along with the launch of new public programs, including Greenbrier Global Artists, an after-school program serving the children of asylum seekers, the release said.
“Under [McLendon’s] leadership, the Fralin Museum of Art has made tremendous strides in facilitating important conversations through the museum’s collection and exhibitions,” UVA Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa said in a statement.
Nationally recognized exhibitions during McLendon’s tenure include a multisensory installation by Vanessa German, “sometimes.we.cannot.be.with.our.bodies."; “Unexpected O’Keeffe: The Virginia Watercolors and Later Paintings,” an exhibit focusing on the time that artist Georgia O’Keeffe spent as a student at UVA; and “Skyscraper Gothic,” investigating the European foundations of the American skyscraper and its place in early 20th century material culture.
The Fralin also expanded its Native American collections under McLendon's leadership, acquiring works by contemporary Native American artists, including Wendy Red Star, Cara Romero, Rick Bartow and others, the release said.
Earlier this year, the museum was awarded a $250,000 American Art Program Responsive Grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to support new research and interpretation of the Native American collection through engagement with Native scholars, artists and knowledge holders, the release said.
As an advocate for emerging and midcareer artists in the museum setting, McLendon has worked with a host of significant voices in contemporary art in both thematic and solo exhibitions, among them Vanessa German, R. Luke DuBois, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Beth Lipman, Sofia Maldonado-Suarez, Nick Cave, Sanford Biggers, Toni Dove, Mickalene Thomas, Zimoun, Anne Patterson, Emily Noelle Lambert, Aurora Robson, Jill Sigman, Mac Premo, Daniel Rozin, Alyce Santoro, Gajin Fujita and more, the release said.
McLendon said the McNay’s commitment to integrity, innovation, excellence and equity aligns with the work that has anchored his career.
“It is an honor to follow Richard Aste, and I eagerly anticipate furthering the institution’s mission to provide transformational experiences to the San Antonio community through a growing collection and thought-provoking exhibitions,” McLendon said.
Byrd and Stieren on McNay’s director search committee said McLendon stood out from numerous highly qualified candidates as someone with a unique combination of business acumen, arts expertise, positive energy and a love for the role that art museums play in their community.
'“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew and his innovative ‘leader as facilitator’ approach to the McNay and its talented staff as we collectively build upon the museum’s legacy of excellence together,” Stieren said.
