Gregor Muir

Gregor Muiris Director of Collection, International Art, at Tate (based at Tate Modern), having previously been the Executive Director of theInstitute of Contemporary Artsin London from 2011 to 2016.He was the director of Hauser & Wirth, London, at 196a Piccadilly, from 2004 to 2011. He is also the author of a 2009 memoir in which he recounts his direct experience of theYBAart scene in 1990s London.

Life and career

Gregor Muir curated the 2019 Andy Warhol exhibition at Tate Modern, which subsequently toured to Ludwig Museum in Cologne, AGO Toronto, and Aspen Art Museum. He has overseen the acquisition of numerous artworks into the Tate Collection, having led its international acquisition committees since 2017. While Executive Director of the ICA, Gregor Muir was responsible for exhibitions by Isa Genzken, Betty Woodman, Lis Rhodes, David Robilliard, Prem Sahib, Trojan, Bruce Nauman and Dennis Morris. In 2015 and 2016, Muir curated Frieze Talks, London, with a range of speakers including Wolfgang Tillmans, Anicka Yi and Lee Scratch Perry.

AtHauser & Wirth(2004 - 2011), Muir curated and produced exhibitions of works by Henry Moore (at Hauser & Wirth Zurich and London), Andy Warhol, Joan Mitchell,Francis Picabia,and emerging artists at the time such as Jakub Julian Ziolkowski andZhang Enli.Muir was instrumental in programming 'Hauser & Wirth Coppermill', a vast industrial shed off Brick Lane in East London, with ambitious exhibitions by Christoph Buchel, Martin Kippenberger and Deiter Roth. He also curated group exhibitions such as 'Old School' (2007) bringing together seminal paintings by Old Master and Contemporary artists such asBruegel,Cranach,John Currin and Elizabeth Peyton. In 2005, he curated 'London in Zurich' atHauser & WirthZurich, featuring works byLali Chetwynd(now Monster Chetwynd) and Daniel Sinsel.

Between 2001 and 2004, Muir was the Kramlich Curator of Contemporary Art atTate Modernwhere he worked on numerous film and video acquisitions forTateCollections (to include ambitious co-acquisitions of works across multiple museums by Bruce Nauman and Bill Viola), as well as curating contemporary art displays from theTate Collection,including a special focus on Robert Morris' 1971Tate Galleryexhibition andCarl Andre's 'Equivalent' series ( "the bricks" ). Along withJessica Morganhe curated the exhibition 'Time Zones' atTate Modern,one of the museum's first exhibitions dedicated to the moving image [featuring works by Anri Sala, De Rijke / de Rooij and Fiona Tan] as well as 'In-a-Gadda-da-Vida' atTate BritainwithDamien Hirst,Angus FairhurstandSarah Lucas.

In 1997, Muir worked at theLux GalleryinHoxton Square,in the emerging cultural quarter ofShoreditch,showing works by artist such asKutlug Ataman,Jane & Louise Wilson, jodi.org andCarsten Holler.

In 1997, he co-curated 'Assuming Positions' at the ICA London, featuring works by Jorge Pardo, Tobias Rehberger andPiotr Uklański.Between 1996 and 1997, Muir curated the video programs 'Speaking of Sofas' and 'A Small Shifting Sphere of Serious Culture', including works byTacita Dean,Peter Doig,Gillian Wearingand Jane & Louise Wilson. In 1994 he curated 'Liar', featuring works byCerith Wyn EvansandJake and Dinos Chapman,and in 1993 he curated 'Lucky Kunst', featuring artists such asGary HumeandSam Taylor-Wood.

Muir has also been a writer for numerous artist catalogues, as well as being a contributor toParkettandfriezemagazines.

Works

• Lucky Kunst: The Rise and Fall of Young British Art.Aurum Press, Limited. 2010.ISBN978-1-84513-528-7.

Reviews

• Waldemar Januszczak (January 18, 2009)."Lucky Kunst: The Rise and Fall of Young British Art by Gregor Muir".The Sunday Times.[Pay-for link]
• Tracey Emin (2009-01-08)."My friend Gregor and I fell out when I miaowed during his inaugural speech | The Independent".London: The Independent.

External links

• ICA staff page
• Review ofLucky Kunst