SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- After 17 years of visionary leadership, Dr. Jay Xu, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum—Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, will officially conclude his tenure on April 14, 2025, marking the close of a transformative chapter in the museum’s history.

As the museum welcomes Dr. Soyoung Lee as its next Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO, Dr. Xu leaves behind an institution poised for continued growth and innovation. His legacy sets the foundation for the museum’s next chapter, ensuring it remains a beacon of culture, education, and community engagement.

Joining the museum in 2008, Dr. Xu became the first Chinese American to lead a major U.S. art museum and in 2015, the first museum director of Asian descent elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Over the course of his tenure, Dr. Xu successfully navigated the museum through unprecedented financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, while expanding the museum’s mission, programs, physical facility, and financial foundation, cementing the institution as a globally recognized destination for Asian and Asian American art.

In recognition of Dr. Xu’s extraordinary contribution, the Asian Art Commission and the Asian Art Museum Foundation — the museum’s dual governing boards — passed a resolution honoring him with the status of Director Emeritus. In addition, to celebrate his success elevating both Asian and Asian American artists, the museum has established the Dr. Jay Xu Asian American and Diaspora Arts Fund to amplify underrepresented Asian American artists and foster a deeper understanding of the diversity within the Asian diaspora through exhibitions, programs, and innovative initiatives.

Transformative Leadership and Institutional Growth

Under Dr. Xu’s leadership, the museum has experienced a renaissance, welcoming new audiences and expanding its mission. In 2012, he led a widely admired rebranding of the museum, updating both its brand promise and its visual identity. He spearheaded a $100 million “For All” campaign to reimagine the museum, resulting in the 2021 opening of the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion, a stunning addition that doubled the museum’s exhibition space. This project also included the creation of the East West Bank Art Terrace atop the pavilion and refurbishing the museum’s collection galleries and education facilities, transforming the visitor experience. More recently, Dr. Xu oversaw the creation and implementation of a 5-year strategic plan underscoring a commitment to experience-centered programming and utilization of digital technologies.

Dr. Xu’s tenure also saw a quadrupling of the museum’s endowment to $85 million by 2024, facilitating the museum’s long-term financial stability. Dr. Xu oversaw more than 100 special exhibitions, ranging from historical treasures to cutting-edge contemporary art, including the critically acclaimed Shanghai: Art of the City (2010); Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance (2011); Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past (2012); In Grand Style: Celebrations in Korean Art During the Joseon Dynasty (2013); Gorgeous (2014); Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei (2016); The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe (2016); teamLab: Continuity (2021); Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in Art (2023); Takashi Murakami: Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego (2023); and The Heart of Zen (2023), among others.

An expert in Chinese Bronze Age cultures and archaeology, Dr. Xu also lead the career defining assembly of three groundbreaking exhibitions — China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy (2013), Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty Tomb Treasures (2017), and Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China’s Bronze Age (2024) — featuring recent discoveries updating scholarship and re-introducing global audiences to the story of early China. These exhibitions drew record-breaking crowds and introduced audiences to the richness and diversity of Asian art and culture.

“Jay’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in transforming the Asian Art Museum into a global cultural destination,” said Akiko Yamazaki, Chair Emerita of the Asian Art Commission and Asian Art Museum Foundation. “His galvanizing energy and forward-thinking approach will leave a lasting legacy.”

Expanding the Museum’s Mission

Dr. Xu has been a trailblazer in broadening the museum’s mission to include Asian American art, culture, and history. Notable exhibitions such as Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision, Bernice Bing, and Chanel Miller: I Was, I Am, I Will Be introduced audiences to underrepresented Asian American voices in the art world, setting a new standard for inclusivity.

Additionally, Dr. Xu played a pivotal role in addressing the complex legacy of Avery Brundage, the museum’s founder. Dr. Xu’s leadership ensured that the museum critically examined its history while fostering a more inclusive vision for the future.

“Under Jay’s leadership, we have expanded not just our physical spaces but also the stories we tell,” said Salle Yoo, Chair of the Asian Art Commission and the Asian Art Museum Foundation. “He has ensured that the museum remains a vital platform for diverse perspectives and voices, reflecting the dynamic and multifaceted nature of our community.”

Strengthening Community and Global Connections

Dr. Xu’s tenure has been defined by his dedication to building bridges between the museum and local, national, and international communities. He forged critical partnerships with institutions across Asia, bringing landmark exhibitions from overseas to American audiences while growing the museum’s collection to over 20,000 objects. His efforts ensured representation of underrecognized regions such as Southeast Asia and brought contemporary art to the forefront, with the museum’s contemporary art program now the largest within its curatorial department.

Locally, Dr. Xu deepened ties with various San Francisco organizations and Asian American communities. His contributions have been recognized with awards from a wide range of organizations such as the San Francisco Unified School District, the West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, and the Bay Area Council.

Dr. Xu’s leadership extended beyond the museum walls and beyond San Francisco, as he actively served on boards and advisory councils including the Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative (CMAC); the Terra Foundation for American Art; the American Alliance of Museums; and the Arts & Culture Advisory Council of the America250 Foundation, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. In 2022, he was appointed to the United States Congressional Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

“Jay’s passion for art and his commitment to community have been the cornerstone of his leadership,” said Fred Levin, former Chair of the Asian Art Commission and Asian Art Museum Foundation. “He has transformed the museum into a cultural jewel for San Francisco and an indispensable part of our city’s identity.”

Dr. Xu’s contributions are widely recognized nationally. His numerous accolades include membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the oldest honor society in the United States; founded in 1780 by the second President John Adams, its membership includes leading “thinkers and doers” of every generation, ranging from founding fathers to civil rights leaders to Noble laureates. He is also a member of the Committee of 100, a national non-partisan organization composed of American citizens of Chinese descent who have achieved positions of leadership in a broad range of professions.

Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Xu said: “It has been my profound honor to lead the Asian Art Museum. Together, we have reimagined the museum’s role as a space for rediscovering the past, understanding the present, and imagining the future. I am deeply grateful to our trustees, staff, and community for their unwavering support and collaboration in achieving our shared vision.”