As a visitor to the DeCordova Museum, Dennis Kois said he was struck by the Lincoln institution’s scenic and expansive Sculpture Park.
As the art museum’s new director, Kois said he hopes to leverage the 35-acre Sculpture Park to further grow the museum’s reputation as a leading voice in contemporary and modern art in New England.
“It’s such an incredible place. The Sculpture Park is a really great resource — I don’t think there is anything else like it, at least in New England,” said Kois, who will assume the role of executive director on June 1.
Kois, currently executive director of The Grace Museum in Abilene, Texas, was selected by the Board of Trustees after a year-long national search process that began with a pool of 45 candidates. Kois was one of six finalists invited back for a second round of interviews.
“He is a very energetic and ambitious young man, and he has a real passion for contemporary art,” said Lincoln resident Katherine Kirk, a member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Search Committee. “I think he will be a great advocate for DeCordova.”
Kirk said she was impressed by the breadth of Kois’ experience at both small institutions and “the best and the biggest” museums around the country.
Prior to taking the position with The Grace Museum, Kois served as Chief Designer and Head of Publications and Digital Media for The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Kois also worked in design at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and was an adjunct profession in the graduate program in Museum Studies at George Washington University for several years.
“Dennis is a person of broad experience and deep talent. He is a dynamic, creative, proven leader who will add great strength to the DeCordova as we expand and develop both our exhibition and educational programs,” said DeCordova Board President Robert H. Scott. “After considering over two dozen candidates, we are convinced that we have found the ideal director for the museum today — and tomorrow.”
Kois will become just the fourth director in the DeCordova Museum’s 58-year history in Lincoln. He succeeds Paul Master-Karnik, who served in the role from 1984-2007.
“I’m honored to be chosen to lead DeCordova, an institution I have admired for many years,” said Kois. “I’m eager to build on the DeCordova’s illustrious past and move the museum into the future.”
Having worked at both large and small museums, Kois said he much prefers the personal relationships and direct community interactions that only smaller institutions like DeCordova can provide.
“Working at the big museums is sort of like operating a cruise ship. The ship is moving and it’s really hard to get it to turn,” he said.
Kois said he hopes to continue to build upon the strong relationship DeCordova has established with Lincoln.
“The people of Lincoln get in free for a reason. I think it will be critical to reinforce the relationship with the town,” he said.
At The Grace Museum, Kois organized the first annual KidzFest, which attracted nearly 6,000 attendees to the museum.
Search Committee member and Lincoln resident Blair Trippe said Kois’ enthusiasm for community building was a factor in his selection as director.
“DeCordova is a big part of this town. Dennis is keenly aware of the importance of working with the town,” Tripp said.
In addition to community building, as executive director, Kois will be charged with addressing the DeCordova’s facilities needs.
While at The Grace Museum, Kois led the design and construction of a renovation of the museum’s children’s education facilities, including the creation of a new 4,500-square-foot green-design Education Center.
Kois will oversee an even larger construction project in his new role at DeCordova. The museum received a $477,000 grant from the state’s Cultural Facilities Fund in November towards the construction of a 19,000-square-foot addition, which will include collections storage and exhibition preparation facilities.
“[DeCordova] definitely has some facilities needs. It’s really, to some degree, maxed out already,” he said.
Although he has been a frequent visitor to New England, Kois has never lived or worked in the region. Kois said he is excited about starting a new job and moving to a new home with his wife Stacey Schmidt, who has also worked as a museum curator, and their two children Olin, 2, and Violet, 2 months.
