The University of Western Ontario has announced that James Patten will take on the position of Director and Chief Curator of the McIntosh Gallery, effective February 1.
Patten comes to the McIntosh from the Art Gallery of Windsor, where he has served as Curator of Contemporary Art (2002-2006) and as Chief Curator since 2006. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Visual Arts at the University of Windsor.
Patten has previously held positions as Curator of Contemporary Art and Photography at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Curator of Contemporary Art at Museum London and Director of Art 45 Inc., a private gallery of contemporary art in Montreal.
He holds a BA (Hon) in Art History from the University of Toronto and an MA in Modern Art from McGill University.
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe, Chair of the Selection Committee says he is delighted with the appointment of Patten to this key position at Western “as we continue to build a truly distinguished university-based gallery.”
“James will be an enormously effective leader for the McIntosh Gallery in its role as an academic and cultural resource both for our campus and for the larger region and country,” says Longstaffe.
Professor Emerita Madeline Lennon, Chair of the McIntosh Gallery Committee of Western’s Board of Governors and a member of the Selection Committee, adds “James’ experience at a number of Canadian museums and galleries, and the quality of the many fine exhibitions he has curated, are signs of the leadership and vision he brings to this new position.”
Patten will succeed Judith Rodger, who has served as Acting Director since May of 2008 and who has successfully led the McIntosh in transition toward its new role as a teaching and research resource in the academic community and as a centre for innovation in the production, exhibition, interpretation and collection of visual culture for the broader community of London and southwestern Ontario.