John Zeppetelli at the DHC/ART Foundation's Jenny Holzer exhibition in October 2010 / photo Eric Tschaeppler
John Zeppetelli, currently curator at the DHC/ART Foundation in Montreal, has been named to the top post of director at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.
He will begin the new job on August 12.
“I know it will be a fascinating and complex place to work,” Zeppetelli told Canadian Art. “I’m just excited—excited about the new challenges. And, of course, sad to leave here [DHC/ART]; sad to leave my colleagues, and sad to leave this extraordinary foundation.”
Just last night, DHC opened the first major Canadian exhibition of American artist Cory Arcangel, which Zeppetelli curated.
In his time at the foundation—he has been there since its opening in 2007—Zeppetelli has curated or co-curated exhibitions of other internationally renowned artists including Thomas Demand and John Currin. (Late last year, he wrote an article for our magazine about the Demand exhibition.) Other exhibitions presented during his tenure include ones on Jenny Holzer, Christian Marclay and Sophie Calle.
Before joining DHC/ART, Zeppetelli worked at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the Saidye Bronfman Centre, and ICA London.
He is also a graduate of the Whitney Independent Study Program and an award-winning filmmaker in his own right.
In a release, the MACM noted that Zeppetelli’s main tasks will include developing a new strategic plan for the museum that will improve attendance, boost revenues and bring about a significant renovation.
Earlier this spring, three major staffers—including director Paulette Gagnon and chief curator Marie Fraser—resigned from the MACM in tandem with announcements regarding a new strategic direction led by board chair Alexandre Taillefer, who has identified himself as having a “pro-interventionist” approach. In the intervening months, it was announced that the MACM’s Quebec Triennial would be combined with the Biennale de Montréal.
Zeppetelli is the 10th director of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014.
