Magazzino Italian Art Enters the Next Chapter in Its History With Appointment of New Leadership Team

Magazzino Italian Art today announced the appointment of a new leadership team—Director Adam Sheffer, Artistic Director Paola Mura, Chief Operating Officer Monica Eisner, and Director of Education, Germano Celant Research Center, Nicola Lucchi—as the institution heightens its profile as the only U.S. museum dedicated to post-war and contemporary Italian art, and the newest full-scale museum in the greater New York area. The four new leaders come to Magazzino with decades of experience in museums, non-profit organizations, and galleries. They will take the institution into the next phase of its development following the opening in September 2023 of the second building on its nine-acre campus, the Robert Olnick Pavilion, and an expansion of Magazzino’s exhibitions, programs, and amenities.

Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, Founders and Managing Trustees of Magazzino, said, “Seven years ago, we opened Magazzino with a single building devoted to the presentation of our collection of Arte Povera. Now, the Museum has blossomed into a major institution for post-war and contemporary Italian art, with facilities for temporary exhibitions, public programs, and education initiatives, an increasingly active research center, and even a café dedicated to Italian cuisine. We are excited to name the leadership team that will advance Magazzino in all areas, from curatorial and educational programs to community outreach and fundraising, as the Museum continues to grow and evolve.”

Adam Sheffer, who joins Magazzino as Director, brings more than 35 years of experience in the art world to the Museum. He has held senior positions at Cheim & Read, Pace Gallery, and Lisson Gallery and served as president of the non-profit organization Art Dealers Association of America. He is a benefactor of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Adam Sheffer said, “I have followed Magazzino closely from its earliest days and seen its remarkable evolution, as it has risen from conception into a peerless center for Italian culture. There is no other place in the world with its mission, and there are few that can match its engaging spirit. I am honored to join this institution and help it build on its strong foundations.”

Paola Mura, who holds a PhD in Architecture-Museum Studies with a Master’s in Conservation and Management of Contemporary Art, joins as Artistic Director. Formerly Director of the Civic Museums of Cagliari, where she led the reinstallation of the modern, contemporary, and Asian collections, she has more than 30 years of experience in cultural heritage conservation and management. She has worked with the City Administration of Cagliari, the Italian Ministry of Culture, and the EACEA Agency of the European Commission. She has curated key exhibitions including collaborations with Magazzino Italian Art such as Arte Povera from the Olnick Spanu Collection and Marco Anelli: Building Magazzino, 2014–2024 and continues to serve as a curator for numerous public and private institutions.

Paola Mura said, “The opening of the Robert Olnick Pavilion has presented Magazzino with an extraordinary opportunity to create exhibitions and events that connect the permanent collection on view in the Main Building with new voices and perspectives in post-war and contemporary Italian art. I look forward to working closely with the leadership and the founders to offer a thought-provoking program that only this Museum could present.”

Monica Eisner joins as Chief Operating Officer after working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she oversaw day-to-day operations in the Museum’s Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. She previously held positions at the International Center of Photography and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Monica Eisner said, “Magazzino’s singular mission has continually expanded to serve a growing circle of audiences, from its neighbors in the Hudson Valley to an international community of scholars and art lovers. I’m thrilled to step into this new role with the institution, supporting every aspect of Magazzino’s multifaceted program.”

Nicola Lucchi, who holds a PhD in Italian Studies, joins as Director of Education, Germano Celant Research Center in October 2024. He arrives from the Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA), which he joined in 2020 and where he served as Executive Director between 2022 and 2024. At CIMA, he led a team that organized two annual exhibitions, a competitive fellowship program, public lectures, conferences, screenings, and performances. He joins the Museum in October.

Nicola Lucchi said, “As a longtime admirer of Magazzino, I consider it a rare privilege to join this exceptional institution. With education facilities in the newly opened Robert Olnick Pavilion and a re-energized Germano Celant Research Center, Magazzino is prepared to cement its reputation as a home for the curious general public and a center for serious scholarship.”