PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.- The Board of Trustees of Palm Springs Art Museum announced the appointment of Christine Vendredi as the institution’s new JoAnn McGrath Executive Director.

Vendredi has served as Interim Executive Director since April 2025 and previously as Chief Curator, a role she began in April 2024. An internationally respected arts leader, Vendredi brings more than two decades of experience across curatorial leadership, cultural strategy, and museum innovation. She previously served as Global Director of Art, Culture, and Heritage at Louis Vuitton, where she led major exhibitions and art commissions in Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, Milan, and Los Angeles. She also created and launched the Hors Les Murs program of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, which amplified the voice of the collection through a network of six exhibition spaces around the world.

Vendredi holds a PhD in Art History from the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE) Sorbonne in Paris and a PhD in Architectural History from Charles University in Prague, as well as an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. She has authored books on architecture, taught art history at Keio University in Tokyo, and speaks French, English, Japanese, and Czech.

“I am honored to be leading such a unique institution that champions architecture, design, and the visual arts as essential parts of everyday life in the Coachella Valley and beyond,” said Christine Vendredi, JoAnn McGrath Executive Director. “I look forward to partnering with the staff, board, and community to ensure Palm Springs Art Museum remains a relevant and meaningful space for those seeking a retreat, a place to learn, or simply a moment of beauty and inspiration.”

Since joining Palm Springs Art Museum, Vendredi has ushered in a bold phase of institutional leadership centered on excellence in architecture, design, and the museum’s permanent collection. She has also been integral to the museum’s Q+ Art initiative, curating the banner exhibition David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed. Under her guidance, the museum is preparing for the highly anticipated Mapping the Female Body: Tom Wesselmann & Mickalene Thomas this fall, as well as Fashioning Architecture: What the Runway Borrows from Architecture, opening at the Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion in January 2026.

Her deep knowledge and appreciation of the museum’s permanent collection, which includes more than 16,000 objects across visual art, architecture, and design, make her uniquely suited to lead this institution. Under her leadership, the museum will continue to activate its collection in new and meaningful ways.

“Christine is a rare leader who combines intellectual depth with global perspective and bold curatorial vision,” said Craig Hartzman, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “She has already elevated the museum in profound ways, and we are thrilled to formally welcome her into this role. Her decisive leadership will shape a dynamic future for the institution and our community.”