Portrait of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Director Valerie Hillings with a monumental El Anatsui installation in the background. Photo: Justin Kase Conder, courtesy of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Valerie Hillings has been named the first director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, where she will shape exhibitions, programming, and the museum’s global vision.
BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON
The appointment of the first Guggenheim Abu Dhabi director marks a major milestone for one of the world’s most anticipated cultural institutions. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has named Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural leader of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, placing an experienced curator and museum executive at the center of the museum’s transition from long-term development project to global cultural destination.
Hillings will guide the museum’s strategic direction and oversee its inaugural exhibitions and programs. Additionally, she will help establish an institution designed to connect audiences across cultures through modern and contemporary art. Her appointment comes as Guggenheim Abu Dhabi prepares to become a key part of Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi’s expanding hub for international museums, research, and creative exchange.
Who Is Valerie Hillings, the First Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Director?
Hillings brings extensive experience with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, having previously worked on the project during its early development stages. From 2009 to 2018, she served as Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
During this period, she worked closely with Abu Dhabi’s cultural authorities. In addition, she helped shape the museum’s collection strategy, acquisitions, pre-opening initiatives, and curatorial plans. Her work offered insight into the institution’s goal of building a globally focused collection. The collection reflects artistic developments from the 1960s to the present.
That background gives Hillings a unique perspective as she returns to lead the museum’s next phase. As Guggenheim Abu Dhabi director, she will be responsible for translating years of planning and collection-building into exhibitions and programs. More importantly, she will create unique experiences for visitors from the UAE and around the world.
Valerie Hillings Brings Museum Leadership Experience
Before taking on her new role in Abu Dhabi, Hillings served as Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she led a period of significant growth and institutional development.
During her tenure, she oversaw a major rethinking of the museum’s permanent collection displays, introducing new approaches to presenting artworks and encouraging audiences to explore connections between different artistic movements and cultures. She also expanded the museum’s holdings with hundreds of new acquisitions, strengthening its collection across multiple areas of art history.
Her leadership was also associated with increased public engagement, with annual attendance reaching 1.2 million visitors. The experience demonstrated her ability to balance curatorial ambition with audience development, an important skill for a new international museum seeking to establish a lasting connection with visitors.
Hillings holds a PhD and MA in Art History and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. She also earned an AB in Art History from Duke University. Her academic training and museum experience focus on modern and contemporary art. This field will serve as the foundation for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s collection and programming.
A New Global Platform for Modern and Contemporary Art
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is being developed as more than a museum building. The institution aims to create a platform where artists, researchers, and audiences can explore connections between cultures and generations.
The museum’s collection will focus on art from the 1960s onward. It will highlight artistic movements and creative voices from around the world. This approach reflects a broader shift in museums toward presenting art history through interconnected global perspectives. It moves beyond traditional geographic and chronological categories.
Through exhibitions, commissions, research projects, and public programs, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi plans to encourage dialogue between artists and communities. The museum’s mission aligns with Abu Dhabi’s wider cultural strategy, which emphasizes creativity, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration.
Frank Gehry-Designed Museum Anchors Saadiyat Cultural District
The appointment of a permanent leadership figure comes as Guggenheim Abu Dhabi moves closer to opening within Saadiyat Cultural District. The area is becoming one of the world’s most significant concentrations of cultural institutions. Renowned architect Frank Gehry designed the museum. It will feature approximately 11,600 square meters of interior exhibition space across 30 galleries. The museum will also include extensive outdoor exhibition areas.
The scale of the building is intended to support ambitious exhibitions, large-scale installations, and diverse artistic programs. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will join other major cultural projects in the district. They include Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Together, these institutions represent Abu Dhabi’s effort to create a global destination for art, heritage, and innovation.
Inaugural Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Director Valerie Hillings to Shape Museum’s Opening Chapter
For Hillings, the appointment represents a return to a project she helped shape during its earliest years. More importantly, her familiarity with the museum’s collection, mission, and international partnerships provides continuity as Guggenheim Abu Dhabi prepares to welcome visitors for the first time.
In announcing her appointment, Hillings said she was honored to return to Abu Dhabi. She describes it as an opportunity to complete the journey of founding and opening the museum. She highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for audiences to discover new perspectives through art and cultural exchange.
Her leadership will now help define how Guggenheim Abu Dhabi presents itself to the world. Beyond its architecture and collection, the museum’s success will depend on its ability to create meaningful connections between artists, visitors, and communities.
The arrival of a permanent Guggenheim Abu Dhabi director signals that the institution is entering a decisive stage. With Hillings leading its opening chapter, the museum is in a position to become a significant force in global contemporary art. More importantly, it will reinforce Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as an international cultural center.