#MAKEITHAPPEN

Isolde Brielmaier, Deputy Director of the New Museum

03/22/2023

"Hopeful, bold, joyful and equitable for all."

That's how Isolde Brielmaier describes her vision of future—and as the Deputy Director for the New Museum and guest curator at the International Center of Photography, Brielmaier has made a career out of been forward-thinking.

In 2001, she curated the me + you exhibit by Suchi Reddy at the Smithsonian, which invited audience members to speak their vision for the future—in a single word—into AI technology. The intersection of technology and art has been a recurring theme for Brielmaier, who invited five young Black artists to capture their inner lives via iPhone for the exhibit Inward last year.

Below, we chat with Brielmaier about everything from her daily routine to her personal art collection.

Q&A

Do you remember the first piece of art that really impacted you?
There are so many. Carrie Mae Weems’ Kitchen Table series, Lorna Simpson’s work that so astutely blended image and text, and Picasso’s epic but challenging work, "Guernica," to name a few.

What is your favorite exhibition of all time?
Again, way too hard to choose just one, but among my favs as of late are “Grief and Grievance” and “Faith Ringgold: American People" (currently at the New Museum).

What’s the most powerful artwork you’ve seen lately?
I was really moved and challenged by Kara Walker’s massive Sugar Baby sculpture and installation in Brooklyn’s former Domino Sugar Factory in 2014. And I really love Refik Anadol’s powerful, tech-forward works that merge architecture with data and machine intelligence!

What’s a typical day for you as deputy director for the New Museum?
My days vary greatly, which I love! They involve a lot of strategizing, brainstorming and discussion with my teams – marketing, digital strategy, communications, and NEW INC (our incubator). We work through issues related to quality of work life, equity and the future of work in the culture sector. I also meet with art patrons, potential supporters, board members, and artists.

Brielmaier in the Miller Dickey Jacket and Lloyd Button-Down Shirt, photographed by Willy Lukaitis

As a curator, how do you balance your voice with your artists’ voices?
My focus is always on centering artists and collaborating with them to create a platform that honors their creative vision. My voice comes through in this process but it is conversation with the artist as well as the many other folks who make the magic happen.

What kind of art do you have in your home?
I feel very lucky because all the art in my home is comprised of works gifted to me from artists—Mickalene Thomas, Rashid Johnson, Wangechi Mutu, Lalla Essaydi, Wardell Milan and others—with whom I have worked over the past three decades. Many of them have written personal notes on the back of their works—incredibly meaningful and personal. It is such a joy to live with each and every piece.