COURTESY THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART
London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has named Dr. Antonia Boström keeper of the more than 110,000 works, dating from the 4th to the 19th century, of European sculpture, metalwork, ceramics, and glass in the museum’s collection, beginning January 2016. Boström, who has served as director of curatorial affairs at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City since 2013, will be returning to the institution at which she began her career in 1980.
Boström will be replacing Dr. Paul Williamson, who had been at the V&A for 37 years. In a statement, she said,
“This opportunity has arisen at very short notice, and represents a chance to work with collections that are particularly meaningful for me. Over the past two years, I have learned so much from my colleagues here about the workings of a successful museum, and I am convinced the Nelson-Atkins is headed for yet more success with the exciting exhibitions coming up and the Bloch Collection installation.”
At the Nelson-Atkins, Boström led the reorganization of the curatorial, conservation, and registrar’s departments, and combined the Ancient Art, European Painting & Sculpture, and Architecture, Design, and Decorative Arts into a singular Department of European Arts. She additionally oversaw conservation and registration departments, and conceived a publication task force to review and refresh the museum’s publication policies.
Boström was born in London and obtained her B.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art. Her career has included positions as museum assistant at the National Portrait Gallery and National Art Library in London, assistant curator of sculpture at the V&A, acting curator of paintings and sculpture at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, associate curator of sculpture and decorative arts at Detroit Institute of Arts, and senior curator and department head of sculpture and decorative arts at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Julián Zugazagoitia, the Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell CEO and director of the Nelson-Atkins, added in the same release:
“Dr. Boström brought a depth of scholarship and invaluable skills to the Nelson-Atkins, as well as a wealth of experience across continents. While we are sad to see her leave, we look forward to partnering on various exhibitions and mutually beneficial projects with the V&A.”