Gary Tinterow

Gary Tinterow
Name	Gary Tinterow
Birth date	28 January 1953
Birth place	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Education	Brandeis University (BA), Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Occupation	Museum director, curator, art historian
Known for	Curator of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art
Title	Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Engelhard Curator of 19th-Century Painting, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spouse	Christopher Gardner

Gary Tinterow is an American museum director and curator, renowned as a leading scholar of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. He served for nearly three decades at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, rising to a senior curatorial role, before becoming the director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2012. Tinterow is celebrated for organizing major international exhibitions and for his significant contributions to the scholarship of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Gustave Courbet, and J.M.W. Turner.

Early life and education

Gary Tinterow was born in Houston, Texas, and developed an early interest in art. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then attended Harvard University, completing both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in fine arts. His doctoral dissertation focused on the early work of the French painter Gustave Courbet, establishing a foundation for his future curatorial expertise in 19th-century European painting.

Career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tinterow joined the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983 as a curatorial assistant in the Department of European Paintings. He advanced through the ranks, becoming the Engelhard Curator of 19th-Century Painting. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in expanding and reinterpreting the museum's holdings of French painting and British art. He was instrumental in the acquisition of major works and oversaw significant reinstallations of the permanent collection galleries, including the renovation of the European Paintings galleries and the creation of new spaces for modern and contemporary art.

Directorship of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

In 2012, Tinterow was appointed director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, succeeding Peter C. Marzio. His leadership has been marked by ambitious expansion projects, most notably the construction of the new Nancy and Rich Kinder Building for modern and contemporary art, designed by architect Steven Holl. Under his direction, the museum has significantly grown its endowment, expanded its collection, and strengthened its international profile through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with institutions like the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Curatorial work and exhibitions

Throughout his career, Tinterow has organized numerous landmark exhibitions that have traveled internationally. Key projects include *"Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art"* (2010), *"Gustave Courbet"* (2008), and *"J.M.W. Turner"* (2008). At the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, he has overseen major shows such as *"Katherine Bernhardt"* and *"Vertigo of Color: Matisse, Derain, and the Origins of Fauvism"*. His exhibitions are noted for their scholarly rigor, fresh interpretations, and ability to attract significant public attendance.

Publications and scholarship

Tinterow is a prolific author and editor of important catalogues raisonnés and exhibition publications. His scholarly works include *"The Origins of Impressionism"* and *"Masterpieces of European Painting, 1800–1920, in The Metropolitan Museum of Art"*. He has contributed essays to numerous journals and publications on topics ranging from Édouard Manet to Abstract Expressionism. His research is widely respected in the fields of art history and museum studies.

Awards and recognition

For his contributions to the arts, Tinterow has received several honors. He was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. He has also been awarded the Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Centennial Medal. His work at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has earned accolades from organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums and the Texas Cultural Trust.

Category:American art curators Category:American museum directors Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Brandeis University alumni Category:Harvard University alumni Category:People from Houston