Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Accomplished museum leader, curator, and UCSD alumnus returns to the institution that helped shape and inspire his career in contemporary art.

San Diego, CA - August 17, 2026 — The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) has appointed Brett Littman as its new Director and Chief Executive Officer. An internationally respected museum executive, curator, and writer with more than three decades of leadership experience at preeminent cultural institutions, Littman will officially begin his role in early October 2026 as the fifth Director and CEO in the Museum’s history, leading MCASD into its next chapter.  

Littman assumes leadership at a pivotal moment for MCASD as the Museum continues to build on the momentum of its completed expansion in 2022 and deepen its role as a leading destination for contemporary art in the region, particularly after its successful exhibition run of Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.  

Littman joins MCASD following a distinguished career in New York as Director of the Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum; Executive Director of The Drawing Center; Deputy Director of MoMA PS1, Co-Director of Dieu Donné Papermill; and Associate Director of UrbanGlass. Most recently, he served as Director of Shakkei Consulting where he advised museums, foundations, artists, estates, and cultural organizations on institutional strategy, governance, collections, fundraising, digital initiatives, and public engagement.  

“Following a six-month national search, we are thrilled to welcome Brett Littman to MCASD,” said Maryanne Pfister, President of the Board of Trustees. “Brett is a visionary museum leader whose experience spans some of the country’s most respected contemporary art institutions. His ability to balance artistic ambition with organizational leadership, combined with his past personal connection to San Diego, makes him exceptionally well-positioned to guide the Museum into its next era.” 

“I am honored to be appointed the fifth Director and CEO of MCASD at such a crucial moment in the Museum’s history,” said Littman. “My connection to San Diego is deeply personal. The exhibitions and public programs at the Museum were foundational to my understanding of contemporary art when I was a student at UCSD and in many ways led to my eventual career in the field. The opportunity to return to an institution that shaped my own intellectual and professional growth is incredibly meaningful.” 

Over the past three decades, Littman has built a reputation for combining ambitious artistic vision with operational excellence and financial stewardship. During his 11-year tenure at The Drawing Center he recruited 15 new board members, collaborated with MiMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, UK) to build a collection of North and South American drawings with £1 million support from the Art Fund and expanded partnerships that resulted in fourteen touring exhibitions. At The Noguchi Museum he doubled the operating budget, restructured and managed the Noguchi design, edition and gallery strategies, oversaw exhibitions, collections, archives, conservations, publications, capital planning, and international collaborations. 

In addition to his museum leadership, Littman has curated more than 40 exhibitions spanning contemporary art, architecture, design, craft, literature, music, and science. He served as curator of Frieze Sculpture at Rockefeller Center in 2019 and 2020, and is an accomplished art critic, lecturer, and essayist, having published more than 150 articles and essays for museum publications and international art, design, and fashion magazines. 

“The opportunity ahead is to translate this extraordinary physical transformation into broader civic, artistic, educational, and philanthropic impact,” said Littman. “MCASD has the chance to define itself as a museum that is not only unique within Southern California, but useful, engaged, and essential to interpreting contemporary culture and the future of this region. I look forward to working with the board, staff, artists, supporters, and communities across San Diego to develop this next chapter.”

ABOUT MCASD   
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of today. Open since 1941, the Museum invites people to reflect on their lives, communities, and the ever-changing world through the powerful prism of contemporary art. Located along the ocean in the beautiful coastal community of La Jolla — MCASD showcases an internationally-recognized collection. Its dynamic exhibition schedule features a vast array of media in an unprecedented variety of spaces, along with a growing dedication to community experiences and public programs.   

VISIT   
700 Prospect St, La Jolla, 92037 | www.mcasd.org | @mcasandiego   

PRESS CONTACT
Matthew Van Court | matthew@katalyst-pr.com | (858) 472-6937