Axel Rüger, secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts, is leaving his position for the role of Director at The Frick Collection in New York. He has held his position at The Royal Academy since 2019, steering the institution over the difficult COVID period.
During his tenure, Rüger directed the restoration of the Royal Academy Schools and drafted a new five-year strategic plan. Under his leadership, the RA has hosted several critically acclaimed exhibitions: Tracey Emin/Edvard Munch: The Loneliness of the Soul in 2021 and Francis Bacon: Man and Beast in 2022. It most recently opened the retrospective of Michael Craig-Martin. He has also curated Souls Grown Deep Like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South (2023).
Looking back on his tenure at the RA, Rüger called it “one of the greatest privileges of my life.” He praised the singular independence and artist-driven model of the RA. “I’d like to thank all the staff and artists who have supported me,” he concluded. He called his new job at The Frick Collection “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
RA President Rebecca Salter said of Rüger’s leadership, “He has played an important part in the academy, and we are delighted that he has been further recognized. His appointment at The Frick Collection is timely, coming as it does at an exciting moment in the history of that institution, which is reopening after a major redevelopment. We wish him every success in his new role.”
The Royal Academy of Arts was founded by King George III in 1768. It has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects who aim to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists. Its public programme promotes the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate. Royalacademy.org.uk
The Royal Academy is an independent charity. It does not receive government revenue funding, so it relies upon the support of its visitors, donors, sponsors, patrons and loyal Friends.
Axel Rüger will take up his new appointment in spring 2025.