July 25, 2025 | By Newport Art Museum
Newport Art Museum Announces New Executive Director
NEWPORT, RI – The Newport Art Museum announced today that Harry Philbrick, an accomplished museum professional with nearly 40 years of experience in the arts and nonprofit leadership, will serve as the museum’s new executive director.
A native Rhode Islander whose career has spanned galleries and museums from London to Philadelphia, Philbrick has spent the last three decades as the leader of distinguished arts institutions such as The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum, and Philadelphia Contemporary, which he founded.
“Harry is an extraordinary talent who will lead the Newport Art Museum into a future that honors the past yet remains innovative and relevant,” said Chair of the Board Ellie Voorhes. “This museum has been a vibrant cultural hub in Newport for more than a century. Harry appreciates our legacy, understands our strategic plan, and has a strong vision for continued growth.”
Philbrick is currently serving as the interim director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum and previously served as interim director of the Fabric Workshop and Museum, where he led the artist-centered institution through a strategic restructuring.
“Art, creativity, and their power to bring people together have always been at the center of my life and career. The Newport Art Museum is uniquely positioned to foster those connections,” said Philbrick. “I am excited about the possibilities the Museum has to connect communities within and around Newport, and to make a national impact in the years to come.”
In 2016, Philbrick founded Philadelphia Contemporary, a visual and performance arts nonprofit that connected the community through place-based installations and programming. He served as director until 2023, and in that time raised more than $10 million. Prior to that, he was director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum and director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. At The Aldrich, Philbrick led a $9 million capital campaign to open a new building, helped grow the endowment from $9 million to nearly $30 million, and led the museum’s renowned exhibition program.
“Harry Philbrick was a visionary director at The Aldrich, leading the institution through a transformative chapter,” said Dr. Monica Ramirez-Montagut, who worked with Philbrick at The Aldrich and today serves as director of the Parrish Art Museum. “Twenty-five years later, I still consider Harry a trusted friend, mentor, and colleague, and I continue to be impressed by the ways in which he connects with and creates opportunities for artists.”
Philbrick’s other professional roles include director of education at The Aldrich, staff lecturer at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and head of the exhibition lecture program at Hayward Gallery in London. Philbrick has an MFA from the University of London and, early in his career, was an apprentice to artist Judith Rothschild.
Philbrick will begin his role as Newport Art Museum executive director in mid-September, after wrapping up his time at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum. He takes over from interim executive director Ruth Taylor.
“We believe that Harry is exactly the kind of leader the museum needs to continue to build on our momentum. The trustees are thrilled to start this next chapter together,” said Ellen Bowman, a member of the NAM Board of Directors and a member of its search committee.
For more information about the Newport Art Museum, visit www.NewportArtMuseum.org.
About Newport Art Museum
Founded in 1912 as the Art Association of Newport, the Newport Art Museum is a creative community and gathering place for seasonal visitors and residents alike. As a cultural cornerstone in Newport, Rhode Island, the museum offers dynamic, multigenerational programming and showcases a diverse collection of classic and contemporary art spanning centuries, styles, and perspectives. Discover more at www.NewportArtMuseum.org.