Ian Bruce Wardropper (born 1951) is an American art historian and curator, recognized for his expertise in European sculpture, decorative arts, and Old Master paintings. He has served as the director of the

Frick Collection The Frick Collection (colloquially known as the Frick) is an art museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It was established in 1935 to preserve the collection of the industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The collection (museum) ...

in New York City since 2011.

Early life and education

Wardropper was born on May 11, 1951, in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, where he was raised. Wardropper received his Bachelor of Arts from

Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...

in 1973, concentrating in art. He then pursued graduate studies at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

, where he earned a Master of Arts in 1976 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1985.

Career

Wardropper began his curatorial career at the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The museum is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago's Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park. Its collection, stewa ...

, where he served as Assistant Curator of European Sculpture from 1982 to 1985. He was then associate curator of European decorative arts and sculpture, a role he held until 1989. From 1989 to 2001, he served as the Eloise W. Martin Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, and Classical Art at the Art Institute. In 2001, Wardropper joined

The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the third-largest museum in the world and the largest art museum in the Americas. With 5.36 million v ...

in New York City as the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Curator in Charge of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. He was promoted to chairman of the department in 2005, a position he held until his departure in 2011. In 2013 Wardropper was invested with the Order of Arts and Letters from France in a ceremony held at the

, for recognition of his contributions to the appreciation of European art; especially his role in advancing French culture through curated exhibitions and fostering partnerships with major museums across the United States.

The Frick Collection

In 2011, Wardropper was appointed director of the

, where he has overseen significant exhibitions, publications, and acquisitions, as well as the major renovation, and expansion project known as "Frick Madison." Under his leadership, the Frick Collection expanded its international activities, securing loans and lending works to exhibitions around the world, and hosting numerous international symposiums themed around topics related to works in the collection. The renovation and expansion of the Frick Collection's main building entailed creating new spaces for exhibitions, as well as dedicated spaces for educational and conservation initiatives, and was designed by the architecture firm Selldorf Architects. Wardropper announced that he would be stepping down as director of the museum, in 2025. Max Hollein, director of the

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...

, has commented on Wardropper's work at the Frick, stating that: “He opened up a dialogue with contemporary thinkers and cultural figures. The Frick could be perceived as a very static collection. I think Ian changed that.”

Selected publications

* ''The Sleeve Should Be Illegal & Other Reflections on Art at the Frick''. New York: The Frick Collection, 2016. * ''Limoges Enamels at the Frick Collection''. New York: The Frick Collection, 2015. * ''European Sculpture, 1400-1900: in The Metropolitan Museum of Art''. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wardropper, Ian American art historians American art curators Living people 1951 births Brown University alumni New York University alumni