The Met Hires Star Photography Curator for the Museum’s New Wing

Why It Matters

Onabanjo’s expertise strengthens the Met’s photography holdings and enhances its global narrative as it prepares for the high‑profile Tang Wing, positioning the museum to attract new audiences and donors.

Key Takeaways

• Met appoints Oluremi C. Onabanjo, former MoMA Peter Schub Curator
• Onabanjo will oversee 6,500-photo Walther Collection gift
• Appointment supports development of Tang Wing, slated to open 2030
• Tang Wing designed by Frida Escobedo, Met’s first female wing architect

Pulse Analysis

The Met’s recruitment of Oluremi C. Onabanjo underscores a growing competition among top museums for curatorial talent. Onabanjo, renowned for her scholarship on photography’s social histories, brings a fresh perspective that complements the Met’s ambition to broaden its narrative beyond Western canon. By poaching a high‑profile curator from MoMA, the Met signals its intent to be a leading voice in contemporary photographic discourse, a move that may influence donor confidence and future acquisitions.

The centerpiece of Onabanjo’s mandate is the Walther Collection, a donation of more than 6,500 photographs spanning the 19th and 20th centuries across multiple continents. This trove includes vernacular images from the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Mexico, as well as modern works from Japan and Germany, offering unprecedented research opportunities. Under Onabanjo’s guidance, the Met can develop thematic exhibitions that connect historic practices with current visual culture, potentially attracting scholars, collectors, and a younger, digitally‑savvy audience.

Beyond the photographs, Onabanjo’s appointment dovetails with the Met’s ambitious Tang Wing project, scheduled for a 2030 debut and designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo—the museum’s first female wing architect. The new wing promises a reimagined space for modern and contemporary art, and a curator adept at cross‑cultural storytelling will be essential for integrating photography into that vision. This synergy positions the Met to deepen its global relevance, drive ticket sales, and reinforce its status as a cultural ambassador in an increasingly competitive museum landscape.