WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Clark Art Institute Director Olivier Meslay will step down from his leadership role in July 2026, concluding a decade of change and growth that has seen the Clark flourish in international stature and engagement, the museum announced on Tuesday.

 

Meslay, a widely respected curator and art historian, will return to his native France to pursue a variety of independent projects. 

 

"The Clark has long held a very special place in my heart," Meslay said in a news release. "Being entrusted to lead the organization and this exceptional staff has been one of the greatest honors and privileges in my life.

 

"My wife, Laure, and I first came to the Clark in 2000 when we were both invited to join the inaugural class of Fellows in the Research and Academic Program. Along with our three young children, we spent an incredible year in Williamstown, developing a true love for the Clark and for life here in the Berkshires. To have spent these years immersed in the art and scholarship that define this place and to have had a hand in helping to shape the Clark's future has been a true gift." 

 

Meslay joined the Clark's staff in July 2016 at a pivotal moment in the Institute's history. While the Clark Center had opened to great acclaim in 2014, the campus expansion program was still underway with the renovation of the Manton Research Center nearing completion later that year. Under Meslay's leadership, the Clark embraced its new buildings and campus, and began developing exciting new exhibitions and programming in fulfillment of the Institute's goals of encouraging greater public engagement with art. 

 

"Olivier Meslay is an exceptional leader who has made important contributions to the Clark's growth and continued relevance," said Denise Littlefield Sobel, chair of the Clark's board of trustees. "His expertise, his vision, and his commitment to excellence have continually inspired our visitors, our staff, our trustees, and our colleagues throughout the museum world."

 

Under Meslay's tenure, the Clark has enhanced its collections and special exhibitions, nurtured the continued development of its international Research and Academic Program, deepened its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship to preserve the Clark's 140-acre campus, expanded its  community outreach initiatives to provide greater accessibility and broadened the scope of its public programming for its varied audiences.