Kathryn Kanjo leaving MCASD to lead UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego announced Tuesday that Kathryn Kanjo, its director and CEO, is leaving to become the museum director at the newly created UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art.

Kanjo officially stepped into the leadership role at the La Jolla museum in October 2016, on the occasion of MCASD’s 75th anniversary. Her last day will be Jan. 30.

In her new role, which she officially starts in February, Kanjo will also oversee the UC Irvine Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute of California Art.

The UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art was formed in September of this year when the university acquired the Orange County Museum of Art.

Before becoming MCASD’s David C. Copley Director and CEO, Kanjo was its deputy director of art and programs. She joined MCASD in 2010 as chief curator.

When she was named MCASD’s new leader in 2016, replacing Hugh M. Davies, Kanjo became the museum’s first female CEO.

“Kathryn’s vision, dedication and vast knowledge of contemporary art have shaped MCASD in profound and lasting ways,” Maryanne Pfister, president of the MCASD board of trustees, said in a statement Tuesday. “We are grateful for her years of service and wish her great success in her new role at UC Irvine.”

Kanjo’s ascent to the top leadership role at MCASD came at an important period for the museum, which at the time had campuses in La Jolla and downtown San Diego. She took the helm as the museum was launching its 75th anniversary campaign, marked by a massive expansion and renovation of the La Jolla campus. In the spring of 2024, MCASD closed its downtown campus to focus on its flagship building at 700 Prospect St. in La Jolla.

The $105 million expansion and renovation — under the direction of Selldorf Architects — doubled the museum’s footprint. The project, which closed the La Jolla campus from 2017 until 2021, involved the renovation of 28,000 square feet of existing space.

When it reopened in December of 2021, the museum had four times the square footage of its gallery space, allowing it to better showcase its collection of 5,600 artworks.

Kanjo on Tuesday called the expansion and renovation “a highlight of my tenure as CEO. … It was a feat to move from schematic plans to construction drawings and build a facility in the throes of a pandemic. The public was just emerging from its isolation when the museum reopened. There was a hunger for the real thing and authentic experiences, and our visitors truly communed with the art on view. Indeed, MCASD’s collection is stellar, and it’s been an honor to unveil it for our San Diego community.”

Under Kanjo’s leadership, the museum acquired notable pieces of work, including those by Maya Lin and Mark Rothko.

Of her new role in Orange County, Kanjo said: “I am eager to harness and clarify the long and winding DNA of UC Irvine Langson OCMA’s identity. With the storied Irvine and Buck collections, and the curatorial legacy of OCMA, UC Irvine Langson OCMA is ready to become California’s oldest new museum and I am honored to be its leader.”

The museum announced Tuesday that it has formed a selection committee and will conduct a national search for a new director and CEO in the coming months.