Stephan Jost Departs Art Gallery Of Ontario After Decade

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Stephan Jost, the director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), will step down from his positions at the end of 2024, the Toronto museum announced on Tuesday. Jost's leadership at the AGO has sparked varied reactions within the Canadian art community over the past decade.

He garnered commendation for his substantial investment in modern and contemporary art, overseeing the acquisition of numerous significant works. These include 450 pieces by Diane Arbus, 200 by Peter Hujar, and 227 by Hiroshi Sugimoto. A new gallery dedicated to modern and contemporary art, spanning 40,000 square feet across five floors, is slated to open at the museum in 2027. However, Jost's tenure also faced controversies in recent years.

In 2023, Wanda Nanibush, the AGO's inaugural curator of Indigenous art, departed amid scrutiny over her social media posts supporting Palestine, followed by another curator's exit. Earlier in 2024, a senior curator left the AGO after reports surfaced that the museum had declined to acquire a work by Nan Goldin because the artist had characterized Israel's war in Gaza as a genocide. Also in 2024, more than 400 unionized museum workers staged a strike regarding low wages, leading to a month-long closure of the AGO.

Jost presented his resignation as a fulfillment of long-term strategic objectives.“Over the summer, I reflected on arriving at the AGO 10 years ago and establishing the Strategic Plan we call AGO 2028,” he stated.“I realized that we have met our goals ahead of schedule. Now is the time to set the AGO up for the future with new leadership.” The museum highlighted that Jost expanded access to the AGO by modifying its admission policy, allowing Ontario residents under the age of 25 free entry. He was also instrumental in securing $500 million in gifts for the museum.

Beth Horowitz, co-president of the museum board, commented on Jost's impact:“Stephan has transformed the AGO over the past decade. The collection is broader, deeper and more inclusive, the audience is younger and more diverse. His leadership of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery project, fully funded and on track, is his legacy and will have a lasting impact.” Before joining the AGO in 2016, Jost served as director of the Honolulu Museum of Art in Hawai'i. From 2024 to 2025, he also held the position of president of the Association of Art Museum Directors, an influential industry group providing guidance to museum leaders across the US, Canada, and Mexico. The AGO's announcement did not disclose Jost's future plans, confirming only that the museum would initiate a search for a new director and CEO.

Source: ARTnews

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