After seven years at the helm, Sally Tallant is set to depart from her role as president and executive director of the Queens Museum this summer. The announcement was made via social media on January 21, with Tallant revealing her plans to return to her native England to take on the position of director at the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery in London, just in time for the organization’s 75th anniversary.
Tallant made the move to the United States in November 2019 to lead the Queens Museum, following a successful tenure as the director of the Liverpool Biennial and a decade overseeing programs at the Serpentine Gallery. Her return to the Hayward Gallery holds special significance, as she previously served as an assistant curator at the institution earlier in her career.
Taking over from former President and Executive Director Laura Raicovich, Tallant faced significant challenges during her time at the Queens Museum. One of the most notable incidents was Raicovich’s resignation in 2018, following a controversial decision to cancel an Israeli-backed event commemorating the 1947 United Nations vote to partition Palestine. The museum faced backlash for the cancellation, which was ultimately overturned, but not without accusations of antisemitism from New York and Israeli officials.
Tallant, a Leeds native who had never lived in the US before, assumed her role just months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. The museum, like many others, was forced to close its doors and suspend programming for six months, leading to furloughs for 30 part-time and full-time employees. Despite these challenges, the institution reopened in September, showcasing a public artwork by Mierle Laderman Ukeles to honor the city’s essential workers.
During Tallant’s tenure, the Queens Museum secured a substantial $26.4 million expansion allocation from the city, earmarked for a new children’s wing and upgraded HVAC system. Additionally, the museum launched the “Year of Uncertainty” residency program in 2021, which later faced criticism for its management and exhibition expectations.
In November 2023, tensions rose within the museum as staff members requested a statement regarding Israel’s actions towards Palestinians, given the museum’s connection to the 1947 UN vote. Tallant’s response, stating that the institution could not make political statements, sparked further debate among employees who pointed to previous instances where the museum had taken political stances.
Despite these challenges, the Queens Museum praised Tallant for her contributions, including groundbreaking exhibitions, education programs, public art commissions, and community initiatives. Her partnership with Delta Airlines and Port Authority to commission public art at LaGuardia International Airport’s Terminal C was highlighted, along with her commitment to diverse educational programming.
As Tallant prepares to depart, the museum’s board has already begun the search for a new president and executive director to lead the institution into its next chapter.
