Julia Marciari-Alexander to Step Down from Walters Art Museum in Fall 2024, Following Appointment as President of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation

Baltimore, MD (April 3, 2024)—The Walters Art Museum today shares the news that Julia Marciari-Alexander, who has served as the Andrea B. & John H. Laporte Executive Director and CEO of the museum since 2013, has been appointed President of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, an important supporter of the study and presentation of European art, architecture, and archaeology in the United States.

Marciari-Alexander will remain at the Walters until September 2024, to support the Board of Trustees and the museum’s Leadership Team and staff during this transition. The Board will form a search committee and launch an international search in the near future; further details will be announced as the process moves forward.

“It is bittersweet to share the news of Julia’s planned departure after an incredibly successful 11-plus year tenure at the Walters,” said Peter Bain, President of the Board of Trustees of the Walters Art Museum. “Julia will be leaving with a remarkable legacy and a long list of accomplishments, from her impact on our audience engagement through strong exhibitions and programs, to her leadership in forging new investments in our facilities and our staff. Her leadership through the pandemic was nothing short of exceptional. We will miss her tremendously, but are excited for her to take on this important role at a foundation that holds a unique and critical place in the study of art history, in ways that resonate with the unique origins of the Walters itself.”

“Throughout my time at the Walters Art Museum, I have been reminded regularly of how special this institution is and the many ways in which it is beloved by the Baltimore community,” said Marciari-Alexander. “While the thought of leaving the Walters collections, its people, and this amazing city did not make this an easy decision, I am tremendously excited to pursue this opportunity with the Kress Foundation especially. I am deeply grateful for the support and collaboration of the Walters community—staff, volunteers, donors, trustees, and visitors alike. Your collective passion for art and education, and for the Walters’ special role in that space, has been a source of inspiration. As I transition to my new position over the next few months, I look forward to continuing to advocate for the Walters and its mission, and I want to thank you for the support you have given both to me and this great museum over the last 11 years.”