Julian Cox, deputy director and chief curator of the Art Gallery of Ontario, will leave his post in April after eight years in the role, the latest departure for the Toronto museum since it became embroiled in controversy over its failed plan to acquire works by Nan Goldin.
It’s unclear whether Cox’s departure is related to Goldin’s controversy, which stemmed from her decision not to add recent works to the collection following her comments about Israel’s war in Gaza. according to a globe and mail Internal communications from museum director Stephen Yost said some members of the acquisitions committee considered Goldin’s comments “offensive” and “anti-Semitic,” the report said.
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Amid the incident, two members of the collections committee and John Zeppetelli, curator of modern and contemporary art, left. “I was impressed by John Zerpetelli’s strong support of my auction and the artist’s right to have a voice,” Goldin told Art Network News.
In a press release last week, the attorney general said only that Cox “chose to resign from office” but did not explain why. Cox was not cited by name in the release, which credited him with establishing the Global Africa and Diaspora Department and adding to the museum’s collections. The AGO said Cox’s last day was April 13.
“Julian had a profound and positive impact on the AGO,” Yost said in a statement. “The quality and appeal of the AGO’s exhibitions, the significant growth of its collections, and his deep commitment to scholarship were all hallmarks of his successful tenure. Personally, his collaborative spirit, leadership, and generosity of spirit will be greatly missed. We wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey.”
