Curator Gavin Delahunty Resigns from Dallas Museum of Art, Citing ‘Allegations Regarding Inappropriate Behavior’ [Updated]

Curator Gavin Delahunty has resigned from the Dallas Museum of Art, citing “allegations regarding . . . inappropriate behavior.”

Delahunty joined the museum as Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art in spring 2014 from Tate Liverpool, where he had served as Head of Exhibitions and Displays from 2010-2014. His full statement, emailed to colleagues and to ARTnews, is below.

November 18, 2017

Statement from Gavin Delahunty

Today I am announcing my resignation as the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, effective immediately. I am aware of allegations regarding my inappropriate behavior, and I do not want them to be a distraction to the Museum or to my colleagues. I offer my deepest apologies to those who have been affected by my behavior. I will be taking this time to spend with my family.

Museum officials have not yet made themselves available for comment. ARTnews understands from a source familiar with the museum that there had been an investigaton by outside counsel and that the museum was moving towards termination.

Delahunty was hired by Maxwell Anderson, who was director of the Dallas Museum of Art from 2012 to 2015. Reached by email today, Anderson told ARTnews, “I have great admiration for Gavin’s curatorial acumen, which is why I felt he would be a great addition to the DMA–and he accomplished a great deal in a short time. But in the end, we are all responsible for our personal conduct, as he has apparently accepted, and now has to address appropriately.”