Rose Art Museum appoints board of advisors

Prominent artists, collectors, philanthropists, academics, business leaders rally around collective vision for future of the Rose

The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University has named 15 new members to its board of advisors and reappointed eight former board members. The unprecedented number of appointments, which follow the recruitment of Christopher Bedford as the Henry and Lois Foster Director of the Rose in 2012 and the naming of Lizbeth Krupp as chair of the board of advisors last fall, are another important step in a new era in the museum’s history.

The Rose’s volunteer board includes prominent personalities in the contemporary art, academic, philanthropic, cultural and business communities in the Boston area and across the U.S. The new board members are Gannit Ankori, Leslie Aronzon, Mark Bradford, Ronni J. Casty, Rena M. Conti, Tory Fair, John S. Foster, Steven A.N. Goldstein, Susan B. Kaplan, Lizbeth Krupp, Frederick Lawrence, Beth Marcus, Dianne Markman, Tim Phillips, and Lisa Yuskavage.  Reappointed board members are Gerald Fineberg, Lois Foster, Matthew Kozol, Jonathan Novak, Betsy Pfau, Meryl Rose, Ann Tanenbaum, and George Wachter.

“We are in the unique position of simultaneously reviving and strengthening the Rose board by welcoming new members as well as reconnecting with former board members,” said Bedford. “This is an exciting time for the Rose. We have ambitious goals for the museum, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the board to help us achieve our collective vision for expanding access to modern and contemporary art.”

Under Bedford’s direction, the Rose has presented exhibitions of internationally renowned artists, including Chris Burden, Mika Rottenberg, Charline von Heyl, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and Jack Whitten. It has commissioned Burden to create a permanent, outdoor sculpture for the museum’s front entrance entitled Light of Reason, which will be completed in late August. These exhibits and Bedford’s vision for the Rose has resulted in the museum attendance increasing last year by more than 30 percent.   

“We are indebted to the members of the museum’s board of advisors, both new and returning, for their commitment and vision to keep the Rose Art Museum vibrant, innovative and a leading institution in the study and exhibition of modern and contemporary art,” said Brandeis President Fred Lawrence. “The Rose will continue to grow in importance in the art world under the direction of Chris Bedford, Lizbeth Krupp and the board.”

“The Rose Art Museum is a source of great pride for Brandeis and, equally important, it contributes to the education and development of our students,” said Provost Steven A.N. Goldstein ’78. “The museum and the university have a shared vision for promoting student engagement and scholarship and for how art can help us to understand the human experience and to promote social justice.”

ABOUT THE ROSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leadership positions include Lizbeth Krupp as board chair, Gerald Fineberg as chair of the Acquisitions Committee and Rena Conti as chair of the Emerging Artists Fund.

The new board members include Brandeis leadership and faculty, prominent artists, major collectors and members of the world of philanthropy:

Gannit Ankori
Professor of Fine Arts, Brandeis University

Leslie Aronzon '84
Brandeis University trustee, Los Angeles

Mark Bradford
Artist, Los Angeles

Ronni J. Casty
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Brookline, Mass.

Rena M. Conti
Assistant professor of health policy and economics, University of Chicago

Tory Fair
Associate professor of sculpture, Brandeis University

John S. Foster '75
Vice president, Christie’s, Boston and Palm Beach, Fla.

Steven A.N. Goldstein '78, MA '78
Provost, Brandeis University

Susan B. Kaplan
President of the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Boston

Lizbeth Krupp
Director, The Krupp Family Foundation, Boston

Frederick Lawrence
President, Brandeis University

Beth Marcus
Retired, president of Marcus & Marcus Antiques Ltd., Boston

Dianne Markman
Los Angeles

Tim Phillips
Chairman, Beyond Conflict, Boston

Lisa Yuskavage
Painter, New York City

Brandeis also reappointed eight former board of advisor members:

Gerald Fineberg
Chairman and director of Fine Hotels Corporation, Boston

Lois Foster P '75
Founding chairwoman of Friends and Patrons of the Rose Art Museum, Boston

Matthew Kozol '77
Attorney, Friedman and Atherton LLP, Boston

Jonathan Novak '75
Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Betsy Pfau '74
Brandeis University fellow, Boston

Meryl Rose
Swampscott, Mass.

Ann Tanenbaum '66
Tanenbaum International Publishing Services, New York

George Wachter '73, P '12
Joint International Department head, co-chairman Old Master Paintings Worldwide, Sotheby’s, New York