The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York announced today that it has appointed Beverly Adams as its new curator of Latin American art. Adams comes to the institution from the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin. In her new role, she will work closely with curator Inés Katzenstein, the director of the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Research Institute for the Study of Art from Latin America.

“Beverly Adams brings to MoMA a distinguished record as a scholar and curator of Latin American art,” said chief curator of painting and sculpture Ann Temkin. “She also brings an enthusiastic and collegial viewpoint as we think across geographical boundaries to offer new readings of the history of modern art.”

As curator of Latin American art at the Blanton Museum of Art, Adams has curated exhibtions such as “The Avant-Garde Networks of Amauta: Argentina, Mexico, and Peru in the 1920s” (2019) with Natalia Majluf, director and chief curator at the Museo de Arte de Lima, Peru; “Words/Matter: Latin American Art and Language” (2019) with Florencia Bazzano; “Clarissa Tossin: Meeting of Waters” (2018); and “Javier Téllez: Letter on the Blind for the Use of Those Who See” (2017). She also spearheaded the reinstallation of the Latin American art galleries in 2017 and helped secure the acquisition of Jacqueline Barnitz’s collection of Latin American art.

At MoMA, Adams will be responsible for the installation of the collection galleries, will manage the development of special exhibitions and catalogues, and will assist with acquisitions and research programs for Latin American art. “I am excited to take this position at a time of tremendous momentum for Latin American art at MoMA,” said Adams. “MoMA has a long history of engagement with Latin American art and today has the most outstanding collection of its type. I look forward to building on that foundation and bringing new perspectives to the collection and to exhibitions.” She will take up the post on September 1.