Kathy Halbreich joined The Museum of Modern Art in the newly created position of Associate Director in February 2008 and was recently named the first Laurenz Foundational Curator in March 2016. Halbreich focuses on curatorial and strategic issues designed to amplify contemporary programs and initiatives at MoMA and PS1, both locally and globally. In 2014, she was the lead curator of Alibis: Sigmar Polke 1963–2010, organized with Tate Modern. This was the first major exhibition to include all of the mediums explored by Polke and was one of the largest shows ever organized at MoMA. Halbreich currently leads the curatorial team for an upcoming Bruce Nauman retrospective, a collaboration with Schaulager, where it will premiere in March 2018 before opening at MoMA in the fall.

Prior to joining the Museum, Halbreich served as director of the Walker Art Center for 16 years. During her tenure, the Walker diversified its visitor base, extended its civic and international presence, and broadened its multidisciplinary programming in the visual, performing, and media arts. Under Halbreich’s leadership, the Walker presented many groundbreaking exhibitions, such as those devoted to the artists Chantal Akerman, Joseph Beuys, Bruce Nauman, Hélio Oiticica, and Kara Walker, as well as How Latitudes Become Form: Art in a Global Age, which was the result of a three-year partnership with a Global Advisory Committee. Beginning in 1985, Halbreich also organized the exhibition Against Nature: Contemporary Art in Japan, with partners in Japan and the United States.

Inducted into the American Association of Museums Centennial Honor Roll, a recipient of the Award for Curatorial Excellence from Bard College, and named a Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters, Halbreich has served as commissioner for North America and Cuba at the Gwangju Biennale (1995) and curatorial advisor for the Carnegie International as well as a member of the Documenta X and Documenta XIII International Committees. She is a board member of the Doris Duke Foundation. Halbreich currently leads the curatorial team for an upcoming Bruce Nauman retrospective, a collaboration with Schaulager, where it will premiere in March 2018 before opening at MoMA in the fall.

Photograph © Peter Ross