Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has appointed Dr. Valerie Hillings as its inaugural director, entrusting the experienced curator with leading the museum’s opening, exhibitions and long-term vision.
WEBDESK – ZAINAB MIRAJ – SHARJAH NEWS
Experienced Curator Returns to Lead Landmark Museum
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has announced the appointment of Dr. Valerie Hillings as its inaugural director, marking a major milestone as the museum prepares to open in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District.
Hillings returns to a project she has helped shape for more than a decade, bringing extensive leadership experience in modern and contemporary art. As Director and CEO, she will oversee the museum’s strategic vision, inaugural exhibitions and public programmes while guiding the institution through its final stages before opening.
Long Association With Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Dr. Hillings is no stranger to the ambitious cultural project.
From 2009 to 2018, she served as Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, working closely with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
During that period, she played a key role in developing the museum’s art collection, acquisitions, exhibition planning and pre-opening programmes. She also contributed to the development of the museum’s iconic building designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Before joining the Abu Dhabi project, Hillings spent five years as part of the Guggenheim’s curatorial team in New York.
Leadership Experience in North Carolina
Since 2018, Hillings has served as Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she led significant institutional growth.
Under her leadership, the museum redesigned its permanent galleries, expanded its collection by nearly 400 artworks, and increased annual attendance to approximately 1.2 million visitors.
She holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Art History and Archaeology from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, along with a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Duke University.
A Global Cultural Destination
Located within Saadiyat Cultural District, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will join internationally recognised institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi.
Once completed, the museum will feature 30 galleries across 11,600 square metres of indoor exhibition space, alongside 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, making it one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
Its exhibitions, artist commissions, research initiatives and educational programmes aim to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global centre for culture and artistic innovation.
Looking Ahead to the Opening
Reacting to her appointment, Dr. Hillings described the opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime journey and said she looks forward to welcoming visitors from around the world to explore stories and artistic perspectives spanning the 1960s to the present day.
Her appointment represents an important step in Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s development as it prepares to become one of the UAE’s most significant cultural institutions, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a global destination for art, creativity and cultural exchange.
