The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden announced the
election of two new trustees, Sonny Kalsi (New York) and Ellen Susman
(Washington, D.C.). Now comprised of thirty active members, the board has grown
to be the largest in the museum's history, having more than doubled in size
under the direction of Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu.
These newly-elected Trustees are a reflection of the
Hirshhorn's ongoing focus to engage philanthropists, entrepreneurs and
luminaries from around the world. In recent years, the museum has solidified
its place as the preeminent national institution for contemporary art, and its
continued engagement with a diverse group of international perspectives has
served to strengthen the museum's voice within the global landscape.
"The board has seen tremendous growth over the past
two years, both in terms of numbers as well as its cultural and geographic
diversity," said Board Chair Daniel H. Sallick. "This expansion is a
testament to the Hirshhorn's global reach, and the important work the museum is
doing to champion contemporary artists both within the city and around the
world."
"We are so pleased to welcome Sonny and Ellen to the
Hirshhorn's board," said Chiu. "Their expertise will be invaluable as
we continue to expand our exhibition purview and prepare to host major shows by
some of the most significant and influential artists working today."
About the Board Members
Sonny Kalsi is a Founder and Partner of GreenOak
Real Estate, an independent real estate principal investing firm. Kalsi was
previously the Global Co-Head of Morgan Stanley's Real Estate Investing
business and President of the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds until early
2009.
He was recently named by PERE as one of the 100 most influential people
in private real estate from the past decade. Kalsi is a graduate of Georgetown
University with a degree in Business Administration and is a member of the
Georgetown's Board of Regents.
Ellen Susman served as Director of the U.S.
Department of State's ART in Embassies (AIE) program, an office of the Bureau
of Overseas Buildings Operations from 2013-2016. Before that, Susman
served as a Member of President Obama's Advisory Committee on the Arts for the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
She previously served on the
boards of the MoMA's Latin American Fund, The Blanton Museum, The Texas Tribune,
The Democracy Alliance, and the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy
School, among others.
Currently she serves on the Yale University Art
Gallery Board and is an Advisory Member to the Whitney Museum of American Art,
the Aspen Art Museum and K9s4COP'S.
