Tom Gutenberger Chief Development Officer and Deputy Director for Advancement | Virginia Museum of Fine Art
Tom Gutenberger Chief Development Officer and Deputy Director for Advancement | Virginia Museum of Fine Art
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced the appointment of Dr. Alisa Chiles as the new Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Decorative Arts, 1890 to the Present. Dr. Chiles will assume her role on January 10, 2025, following an extensive international search.
Museum Director and CEO Alex Nyerges expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Chiles joining the team: “I am delighted to welcome Alisa to the staff at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,” he said. He emphasized her anticipated contributions to future acquisitions, installations, and the stewardship of VMFA’s renowned decorative arts collection.
Dr. Chiles is set to oversee a collection exceeding 2,700 works of decorative art from after 1890. This includes significant holdings in Art Nouveau and Art Deco, recognized as some of the finest outside Paris, along with an important Fabergé collection second only to that in Russia. She takes over from Barry Shifman, who retired in January 2024 after a notable tenure at VMFA.
“I am thrilled to join VMFA and work with its extraordinary collection and dedicated team,” said Dr. Chiles upon her appointment. She commended VMFA’s commitment to inclusivity and expressed eagerness to foster connections between people and decorative arts.
Dr. Chiles brings expertise in Art Nouveau and Art Deco from her previous role as Assistant Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her efforts there included recontextualizing European decorative arts through a global perspective by highlighting makers’ identities and tracing material origins.
Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Pennsylvania with a dissertation focused on French-German rivalry's impact on modern decorative arts development during the early 20th century.
Dr. Michael Taylor, Artistic Director and Chief Curator at VMFA, praised Dr. Chiles’ qualifications: “Alisa’s strong scholarly background and innovative curatorial approach make her an exceptional choice for this endowed curatorial position.” He anticipates exciting developments under her leadership regarding acquisitions, exhibitions, and permanent displays.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is one of America's largest comprehensive art museums offering free general admission every day of the year.
For further details about VMFA's programs or collections, visit their website at VMFA.museum or contact their media representatives Jan Hatchette, Amy Peck, or Camryn Royal for more information.
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