The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has announced the appointment of Dr. Soyoung Lee as its new Director and CEO. She will assume her role in April 2025, succeeding Dr. Jay Xu, who has led the museum since 2008.
Dr. Lee joins from the Harvard Art Museums, where she served as Chief Curator since 2018. Her work at Harvard included leading artistic vision for collections and exhibitions and co-curating notable exhibitions such as “Future Minded: New Works in the Collection” (2024) and “Earthly Delights: 6,000 Years of Asian Ceramics” (2022).
“This is an exciting moment for the Asian Art Museum,” stated Salle Yoo, Chair of the Asian Art Museum Foundation and Asian Art Commission. “As a leading scholar of Asian art and culture, Dr. Lee brings a deep understanding of what is happening in Asian and Asian American art now, its connection to the past, and a bold vision of where it may lead in the future.”
Dr. Lee expressed her enthusiasm for joining the museum, saying, “What a singular honor to be leading this premier institution, and in the beautiful city of San Francisco… It is thrilling to imagine charting an audacious path for the future of Asian and Asian diasporic art and culture—for everyone to experience.”
Her career includes 15 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as their first curator for Korean art. Her publications include works such as “Diamond Mountains: Travel and Nostalgia in Korean Art” (2018) among others.
In addition to her curatorial roles, Dr. Lee served on various committees including Trustee at Large for the Association of Art Museum Curators from 2017 to 2023.
Expressing gratitude towards Dr. Jay Xu’s leadership, Yoo said, “I want to express our deep appreciation to Dr. Xu – soon to be Director Emeritus – for his tireless dedication and service… The museum was transformed under his visionary leadership.”
Under Xu’s leadership over nearly two decades, the museum expanded its focus into contemporary art while also physically expanding with new gallery space.
“I wholeheartedly embrace the museum’s forward-looking expansion into the contemporary field,” commented Lee regarding her upcoming role.
The selection process was conducted by a Search Committee led by Nanci Nishimura with assistance from Russell Reynolds Associates.
The museum boasts one of the world’s finest collections of over 20,000 pieces spanning ancient jades to modern video installations.
