A series of reflections on outgoing Walker director Kathy Halbreich from colleagues and friends.
“Kathy has been a wonderful inspiration for me, and many others, in terms of openness towards the other as a driving force to transform a world-class art institution to a truly global one.”
–Hou Hanru, independent curator, member of the Global Advisory Committee for the 2003 Walker exhibition How Latitudes Become Forms: Art in Global Age
“When, as a European curator working in England, I looked to America, Kathy was one of the art world beacons that burned most brightly. She was one of the reasons I moved to the United States, inspired by the standards she set for what an exhibition program, and a museum, could be. When Philippe Vergne and I were curating the Whitney Biennial, her encouragement and support were epitomized in two pieces of advice — that the museum was a safe place for unsafe ideas,’ and that curating the Biennial was not a popularity contest. Kathy believes in ideas, taking risks, and asking questions — all essential tools for keeping art alive.”
–Chrissie Iles, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art
“To be trained at the Walker was incredible. The place was always packed with remarkable works, staff, artists, and audiences in an energetic, instructive, and truly fun environment, and Kathy Halbreich was the muscle behind it all. The message was that artists come first, and the artists did. Kathy created an atmosphere so supportive of younger colleagues and so dedicated to growing the field through mentorship that we young curators left complaining to each other that we were wrecked for life. I thank Kathy for her intelligence, foresight, and keenly generous commitment to making room for the rest of us. Here’s to your next adventure!”
–Eungie Joo, Director & Curator, Education and Public Programs, New Museum
Get Walker Reader in your inbox. Sign up to receive first word about our original videos, commissioned essays, curatorial perspectives, and artist interviews.