Darren Walker elected President of the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Walker, who assumes the role immediately, has served on the National Gallery’s board since 2019 and will work alongside his fellow trustees and the executive team to advance the National Gallery’s mission as the nation’s art museum. Walker succeeds Mitchell P. Rales, who will remain an active trustee.

“Mitch’s steadfast leadership as a trustee for 18 years, with the past five years as president, has been a model of service to the National Gallery and our nation. He is a true ambassador for the civic and creative life of our society. Working in partnership with him has been invaluable. I, along with the entire board, am extremely grateful that he will remain an active member of the board,” said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. “I look forward to working closely with Darren, who brings a strong vision and knowledge into the role at a vital and exciting time in the National Gallery’s trajectory. We remain committed to our mission of serving the nation and appreciate the partnership of the trustees in realizing this important work.”

Walker brings deep business acumen and cultural-sector expertise to his role as president of the National Gallery of Art. Drawing from his 11-year tenure as president of the Ford Foundation, an international social justice philanthropy, coupled with his experience at nonprofit, financial, and higher-education institutions globally, he brings an expansive point of view to the Gallery’s mission. During his tenure as a trustee, Walker established—and has continued to build—a major art acquisition fund grounded in the National Gallery’s commitment to excellence and diversity, made possible through the Ford Foundation. The fund provided substantive support for the groundbreaking exhibition Afro-Atlantic Histories in 2022 and facilitated the acquisition of the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American photographs in 2023. Walker has played an active role in helping the National Gallery expand its philanthropic support, strengthen its commitment to sustainability, and broaden its reach in the 21st century.

Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, which he has led since 2013, Walker was vice president at the Rockefeller Foundation and COO of Harlem’s Abyssinian Development Corporation. Walker serves on a number of boards, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the High Line, Art Bridges, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE). He has received 17 honorary degrees; the Commander of the French Order of Arts and Letters, the highest cultural honor from the French government; and the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Rales, an industrialist and business leader, art collector, and philanthropist, has been a trustee of the National Gallery since 2006. During his five-year tenure as president, Rales provided astute leadership and unwavering counsel to the museum through periods of growth and change. Under his leadership, the National Gallery successfully completed its largest capital renewal project, including the East Building skylight replacement, which had been a priority since 1997. In addition, the museum acquired the Corcoran Gallery of Art collection and closed out a major fundraising campaign that invigorated acquisitions and provided new resources for conservation and scholarship.

Rales and his wife, Emily Wei Rales—cofounders of Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland—have been invaluable supporters of the National Gallery for more than two decades, contributing transformative financial gifts that have furthered mission-driven initiatives including the renovation of the museum’s East Building in 2016. Their support has also enabled the acquisition of key artworks that have expanded the scope of the museum’s renowned permanent collection. Among the many significant works acquired with the support of Glenstone Foundation are Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s Target (1992), Simone Leigh’s Sentinel (2022), and Katharina Fritsch’s Hahn/Cock (2013).

David Rubenstein, one of the country’s leading civic philanthropists, will continue to serve as chairman of the board of trustees, and Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and Indra Nooyi will continue in their roles as trustees. The National Gallery of Art Board of Trustees currently comprises nine members who contribute a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds to advance the museum’s mission and initiatives. They include four ex-officio trustees: the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Main Image: Darren Walker, Photo by Simon Leuthi