Clark Curator Richard Rand Leaving For California Museum
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Richard Rand, the Robert and Martha Berman Lipp Senior Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Clark Art Institute, has accepted the position of associate director for Collections at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Rand, who has led the Clark’s curatorial team since 1997, will join the Getty’s staff in September 2015, succeeding Thomas Kren, who recently announced his retirement.
Rand has played a prominent role in enhancing every aspect of the Clark’s curatorial projects, including the three-year international tour of its French paintings collection, the growth of its special exhibition program, and the recent reinstallation of the Institute’s permanent collection following an award-winning renovation of the original 1955-era Museum Building.
“Richard Rand is a distinguished scholar, a brilliant curator, an innovative leader, and a dear colleague,” said Michael Conforti, director of the Clark. “His contributions to the Clark have greatly enriched our museum program and will leave a lasting impact. Our staff and Trustees share a profound sense of pride in Richard’s success and will look forward to seeing the ways in which he will bring his talents to bear at the Getty. He is a valued member of our staff and we will miss his creativity, energy and wisdom.”
Getty Director Timothy Potts said Rand's impressive background will be an asset to the Getty.
“Richard has been at the Clark for more than 17 years, where he has distinguished himself by the quality of his acquisitions — especially in Italian, French and British paintings — and in his program of highly important and innovative exhibitions," he said. "I know that Richard will contribute greatly to the senior management of the museum and continue to distinguish himself in his new role at the Getty.”
Rand will remain at the Clark until early July and will work with his colleagues to launch the Clark’s much anticipated summer exhibition program, including the opening of Van Gogh and Nature, a major exhibition examining the Dutch master’s interest in the natural world. The Clark will begin an immediate search for Rand’s successor. He will begin his work at the Getty in September 2015.
Rand said he was "deeply indebted" to Conforti and the Clark’s Board of Trustees for his opporunities at the Clark.
"The Clark’s commitment to curatorial independence has allowed us to explore fascinating themes and experiment with new concepts — a real joy for any curator," he said. "I have been privileged to work with a fantastic team and will always treasure those relationships, my experiences at the Clark, and the pleasure of life in the Berkshires.”
Rand received his B.A. from Bowdoin College and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, writing a dissertation on the landscapes of Fragonard. He is a 2008 graduate of the Center for Curatorial Leadership, New York, and in April 2011 he was made Chevalier dans l’ordre des arts et des lettres, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, France.
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