New director for the Museum of Sketches

The Museum of Sketches is pleased to announce Patrick Amsellem, 41, as the museum’s incoming director.
Patrick Amsellem, who holds a PhD in Art History and Architectural History from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, was until recently a curator at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, where he worked from 2007. Originally from Malmö, he is also active as a lecturer and art critic.

At the end of the year, Patrick Amsellem will take over from Elisabet Haglund the task of developing the Museum of Sketches as a meaningful venue and a natural participant in the debate on public art and the significance of sketches in the artistic process.

“As a museum of public art, the Museum of Sketches has a unique profile. The objective is to put the museum on the map both within Sweden and internationally”, says Patrick Amsellem about his visions for his new workplace.

His international experience of exhibition work, collections and strategy will be a valuable asset for the Museum of Sketches.

“Boundary-crossing forms of cooperation, a continuous commitment to a large collection and active work aimed at a broad and multifaceted audience are useful experiences that I bring with me to Lund”, says Patrick Amsellem.

With his expertise and interdisciplinary PhD thesis on post-war memorials on the boundary between art, architecture and urban environments, he also contributes a solid academic basis for the museum’s activities and cooperation between research, culture and business.

“I want to create a relevant meeting-place for a debate on what public art can mean today – in fruitful dialogue with history and tradition – and I am optimistic about the possibility of finding resources to implement high-quality innovative and dynamic exhibitions”, he says.

Patrick Amsellem will take up his position as museum director on 1 January 2012, succeeding Elisabet Haglund who is retiring after 6 years at the museum.