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South Florida Extra - Pacesetter
Work of Art
New job: |
What attracted Terence Riley to his new job as director of the Miami Art Museum, he says, was "the city's energy."
"Miami in a nutshell has a very bright future," says Riley, 51, who was a chief curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. "Every critical aspect of what might constitute a lively art scene is in place or growing."
Riley is entrusted with playing a big role in that growth. Miami-Dade voters approved a $100-million bond issue for a new museum at Museum Park, and Riley will supervise the planning and development of the project. He will also oversee efforts to raise some $100 million in private contributions and develop a strategy to build the museum's permanent collection.
Riley seems well-qualified for the job. The widely published architect was heavily involved in the expansion and renovation of the MoMA, from its conception to fund raising to the launch of the new facility.
He says Miami's recent emergence on the international art scene, exemplified by its hosting of the Art Basel international art show and its growing gallery scene, underscores the importance of doing a world-class job on the new museum.
"I want everyone to know what's at stake," says Riley, who recently moved in to a new home he built in Miami's Design District. "The art world has pretty much discovered Miami through Art Basel, and they have high expectations."
