PRINCETON, NJ.- The Princeton University Art Museum has appointed Chris Newth as associate director for collections and exhibitions. He joins Princeton from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where he has served most recently as senior director for exhibitions strategy and gallery display. As a member of the Princeton University Art Museum’s senior management team, Newth will be responsible for the strategic oversight and implementation of the museum’s curatorial, collections and exhibition activities, including exhibition planning and execution, art conservation, collections management, research and budget planning. Newth begins his position at Princeton Jan. 27, 2020.

“Chris’s deep experience in leading complex teams and projects in a leadership institution makes him ideally qualified for this essential role at the Princeton University Art Museum,” said James Steward, Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger, Class of 1976, director. “With our work to create a new facility designed by Sir David Adjaye, the coming years afford the opportunity and necessity to adopt new modes of inquiry and of project development that will draw on Chris’s expertise in delivering visionary experiences.”

Newth received his Bachelor of Arts with distinction in history from the University of Michigan, and his Master of Arts in art history, with a concentration in medieval art, from Boston University. Newth joined the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2002, and has since held several positions at the museum, including manager of exhibitions and installations; acting chair, arts of Asia, Oceania and Africa; director of curatorial administration; acting chair, contemporary art; and chief of curatorial administration. In his current role at the MFA Boston, Newth oversees the museum’s resources for approximately 30 exhibitions, 200 gallery installations and numerous renovation projects each year, including registration, conservation, curatorial, development, facilities and technology.

“I look forward to partnering with the inspired leadership, curatorial and education teams at Princeton, particularly at this auspicious period of dynamic change, to deliver profound experiences with visual art to our visitors,” said Newth.

The Princeton museum is preparing for tremendous growth, including the new building being designed by Adjaye, and the associate director for collections and exhibitions will be a key partner in shaping the institution’s galleries, outreach and impact. The new building will provide dramatically enhanced spaces for the display of the collections, temporary exhibitions, collections study, education and public amenities. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2021.

Among the special exhibitions planned prior to construction are Life Magazine and the Power of Photography (Feb. 22-June 21, 2020), Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings (March 7-June 14, 2020) and Basquiat in the Studio: The Blue Ribbon Paintings (Oct. 3, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021).