Deborah Velders, Deputy Director of the New Asia Society Texas Center is leaving Houston to take over as director of the Mobile Museum of Art in Alabama. She will begin her duties Sept. 15, according to Allen Oaks, M.D., chairman of Mobile Museum’s board. “We’re very excited to have her,” Oaks says. “She’s extremely knowledgeable about art (and) she knows what she’s doing. She is curatorial, but is very excited to get into the director business.”
Velders came back to Houston, where for more than 15 years she was Head of Exhibitions and Public Programs for The Menil Collection, for her Asia Society job in 2011, resigning from the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, N.C., where she was Director and Chief Curator for six years.
2 comments
Whaat a huge loss for Asia Society Texas Center and Houston. So sad. But, Mobile Museum is really fortunate to get Deborah at their helm. Congratulations to Deborah!!
Mobile Museum has made an outstanding choice in selecting Deborah. One wonders why an outstanding candidate like Deborah cannot find a top-level position within Houston. Perhaps, it’s the old adage of one is not appreciated within one’s home turf. With so much movement within these types of positions across the country, maybe selection committees should take a deep breath and relook their politics.
We wish Deborah the best.