Lisa Phillips, the longtime director of New York's New Museum, has announced her retirement after more than 25 years of leading the contemporary art institution. The 71-year-old director, who took the helm in 1999, will step down as the museum undergoes a significant 62,000-square-foot expansion that was initially expected to open this fall, though no official inauguration date has been announced.

"It's just the right time for me to step down," Phillips told The New York Times, reflecting on her decision to retire. This expansion marks the second major building project Phillips has overseen during her tenure, demonstrating her commitment to physically expanding the museum's presence and capabilities.

Under Phillips' leadership, the New Museum has established itself as a premier destination for contemporary art, mounting an impressive array of surveys and retrospectives. The museum has showcased the work of renowned artists including Wangechi Mutu, Pipilotti Rist, Rosemarie Trockel, Carroll Dunham, Chris Burden, and Peter Saul. These exhibitions have solidified the institution's reputation for presenting cutting-edge contemporary art and supporting both emerging and established artists.

The museum has also gained recognition for its influential group exhibitions during Phillips' tenure. Notable shows include "Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century" in 2007, which explored the evolving landscape of contemporary sculpture, and "Ostalgia" in 2011, which examined art created under Soviet Bloc conditions. These thematic exhibitions have contributed to important art historical conversations and scholarly discourse.

One of Phillips' most significant contributions has been the establishment of the New Museum Triennial in 2010. This recurring exhibition has become a major platform for identifying and showcasing rising talent in the contemporary art world. The next edition of this influential exhibition series is scheduled for 2026, ensuring Phillips' legacy will continue beyond her departure.

Phillips has been instrumental in both the physical and financial growth of the institution. Her most transformative achievement was overseeing the museum's relocation to the Bowery in 2007, which dramatically expanded the museum's footprint and visibility. She also diversified the museum's programming by adding New Inc, an incubator program, and bringing Rhizome, the prominent art-and-technology organization, under the museum's umbrella.

However, Phillips' leadership has not been without controversy. In 2010, the museum faced criticism for presenting an exhibition featuring works from the collection of Dakis Joannou, who was a museum trustee at the time. This raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and institutional governance practices.

More recently, Phillips has faced scrutiny regarding her compensation and management style. According to the museum's recent tax filings, her current salary is approximately $900,000, which some staff members have criticized as excessive. When museum workers moved to unionize in 2019, staff members alleged that management attempted to prevent the formation of the union.

Reflecting on the unionization period, Phillips acknowledged her initial resistance but demonstrated growth in her perspective. "At first, I felt that it was antithetical to the culture of the museum," she told The New York Times. "But then I began to see that this is very much a new generation speaking, and we needed to listen."

Phillips brought significant experience to her role at the New Museum, having previously served as a curator at the Whitney Museum before taking charge in 1999. She became the institution's second director, following founder Marcia Tucker, and has shepherded the museum through more than two decades of growth and evolution.

Her departure comes at a time when several major New York cultural institutions are experiencing leadership transitions. Glenn Lowry of the Museum of Modern Art announced his upcoming departure last year, with Christophe Cherix set to assume leadership of that institution. This wave of directorial changes represents a significant shift in New York's museum landscape.

As Phillips prepares for her departure, the New Museum faces the challenge of finding a successor who can continue building on her legacy. The institution will soon launch a comprehensive search for her replacement while simultaneously working toward an ambitious goal of growing its endowment by $50 million by 2027. This financial target reflects the museum's commitment to long-term sustainability and continued growth in the competitive New York cultural landscape.