MMoCA Announces the Appointment of Its New Gabriele Haberland Director

MADISON, WI— The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Christina Brungardt to serve as MMoCA’s Gabriele Haberland Director.

Brungardt most recently served as Deputy Director of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH). She will relocate to Madison in mid-August and take the helm at MMoCA on August 31.

“I am excited to have Christina begin her leadership role at MMoCA and in the Madison community,” MMoCA Board President Marc Vitale said. “This is a pivotal moment for museums. Christina is the right leader for this time. The entire Board of Trustees welcomes her to Madison and we look forward to working with her.”

At CAMH, Brungardt focused on administrative best practices, strategic planning, and financial oversight. She also stepped into the role of Interim Director to provide key leadership during a period of transition for the organization. Known for its experimental exhibitions focused on emerging as well as established artists, Brungardt worked with CAMH’s team to bring Nari Ward: We the People from the New Museum, New York, as well as critically acclaimed exhibitions Garrett Bradley: American Rhapsody, curated by Rebecca Matalon, and Stonewall 50, curated by Dean Daderko, to the museum’s audiences.

Commenting on her appointment, Brungardt said, “The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is an incredible institution with an impressive history of showing cutting-edge contemporary art while also reflecting on the influence of Modernism. In addition, MMoCA has been an integral part of the Madison community for over 100 years. I am honored to be joining the museum, especially during a time when contemporary art is so critical. Art and artists have the power to change, transform, and move the world in a better direction. I look forward to working with the board, staff, and Madison community to continue the extraordinary legacy of the organization.”

Throughout her career Brungardt has served in a variety of capacities in the arts, including working for galleries in New York and Texas; serving as the Finance Manager of Neue Galerie New York Museum for German and Austrian Art; and teaching art history at Bronx Community College, Hunter College, and the University of North Texas.

Her background provides a unique combination for understanding the balance between the curatorial and educational priorities of an arts organization, the significant role of a collection in preserving and representing art history, and the financial and strategic planning requirements associated with institutional management, stability, and growth. During these unprecedented times, it will be vital to continue the work of director emeritus Stephen Fleischman, who built a strong and sustainable organization during his impressive 30-year tenure. Fleischman retired on May 1, 2020.

Brungardt received her undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and doctorate from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her research focuses on the nexus between art and politics from Modernism to present, which dovetails with the evolving role of arts organizations. “Museums are incubators and test sites for presenting contemporary art and ideas,” Brungardt said. “They provide the space and resources for artists to reflect on that which is most urgent, difficult, and pressing in society and, in addition, museums can expand beyond the walls of the institution to partner with their diverse communities to effect meaningful change.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.