Earlier this morning, the Art Institute of Chicago announced the appointment of James Rondeau as the new President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the museum. The change in leadership comes on the heels of the retirement of former president Douglas Druick, who announced his intention to step down from the post last October after 30 years at the institution. Rondeau is a familiar face to those who are acquainted with Chicago's museums—he is a curator who has worked at the Art Institute for 18 years, most recently as the curator of modern and contemporary art. We've gathered a few facts you may be interested to learn about the head of a place once named the best museum in the world.
1. Rondeau helped secure the museum's largest gift of art
Now on display in the museum's latest permanent exhibition, "The New Contemporary" is made up of 40-plus classic examples of contemporary art and may have never come to the Art Institute if not for Rondeau's help. As the curator of modern and contemporary art, he personally oversaw the acquisition of the gift from Stefan T. Edlis and Gael Neeson, which is valued at more than $400 million. The next time you view Jasper Johns' Target (1961), you can thank Rondeau.
2. Rondeau can usually be found wearing his favorite sneakers
In a 2015 video interview with Chicago magazine, Rondeau showed off his collection of Lanvin sneakers—his preferred form of footwear. He owns several pairs in various colors and admits they "have become a kind of uniform" for him. If you see him walking around the Art Institute, there's a good chance he'll be sporting some of his signature kicks.
3. Rondeau is not afraid of some friendly rivalry
“Healthy competition is good for everyone,” Rondeau told Time Out Chicago in a 2009 interview, referencing the then-recent opening of the Art Institute's Modern Wing and its effect on the Museum of Contemporary Art. As curator, Rondeau helped increase the presence of modern and contemporary art at an institution that was previously best known for housing pieces by Seurat and Monet. He shepherded exhibits that displayed the work of artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Charles Ray and Jasper Johns. With Rondeau at the helm of the Art Institute, we can likely expect even more modern and contemporary exhibitions that might otherwise take up residence at the MCA.