Johanna Burton leaves Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art to lead Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia.
Johanna Burton Takes the Helm at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia
Johanna Burton, a renowned figure in the contemporary art world, has taken on a new role as the director of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Burton previously served as the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles.
Burton's departure from MOCA was announced in July 2025, marking a significant career move to lead the ICA Philadelphia. The shift presents new opportunities and possibilities, as the ICA is embedded within a university setting, unlike MOCA.
Burton timed her departure to oversee the opening of a major exhibition, "Monuments," scheduled for October 23. She offered to stay at MOCA until her start date at ICA, but the board decided it needed to move quicker towards appointing a new director, leading to her earlier departure in mid-August 2025.
In her new role, Burton will be joined by Clara Kim, a senior curator at Tate Modern in London, who has been hired as the chief curator at MOCA. The leadership transition at MOCA also includes Carolyn Clark Powers becoming board chair and Tim Disney named as the new president.
Burton's move to the ICA is marked by significant partnerships and collaborations, which aligns with her ethos for her new role. One such partnership is the joint venture between MOCA, the Hammer Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to share the MAC3 Collection.
The ICA, Philadelphia, is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Mark W. Strong, the ICA's board chair, expressed excitement for Burton's commitment to artists and public engagement, resonating with the ICA's mission. Burton has already made strides in this area, having launched the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Environment and Art Prize, a biennial artist prize with a $100,000 award.
In addition, Burton helped secure a $1 million gift from the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation for the ICA's arts education program. This commitment to education is a testament to Burton's dedication to fostering the next generation of artists and art enthusiasts.
Burton described the ICA as a beacon for what's next, prioritizing the emergent, the risk-taking, and the rigorously experimental. This move from MOCA, a larger institution, to the ICA, a much smaller institution, is unusual but aligns with Burton's desire to continue pushing boundaries in the contemporary art world.
As Burton begins her new role at the ICA on November 1, she brings with her a wealth of experience and a passion for contemporary art that is sure to invigorate the Philadelphia arts scene.
- Johanna Burton, a contemporary art world figure, has taken up the position of director at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, following her tenure as director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles.
- Burton's departure from MOCA marked a shift in her career, as the ICA is embedded within a university setting, unlike the museum in Los Angeles.
- Burton's new role at the ICA will focus on partnerships and collaborations, such as the joint venture between MOCA, the Hammer Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to share the MAC3 Collection.
- Burton's dedication to education is evident in her launch of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Environment and Art Prize, a biennial artist prize with a $100,000 award, and her securing of a $1 million gift from the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation for the ICA's arts education program.
- Burton views the ICA as a platform for the emergent, the risk-taking, and the rigorously experimental, which aligns with her desire to continue pushing boundaries in the contemporary art world.
