TUCSON, AZ.- MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Tucson announced the appointment of Gabriela Rangel as its next Executive Director, effective September 1, 2025. An acclaimed curator, arts editor, and institutional strategist, Rangel brings more than two decades of experience leading global contemporary art organizations and developing inclusive and visionary cultural programming.
Rangel joins MOCA Tucson during a period of expanding national visibility, as the museum deepens engagement with the communities it serves. As Southern Arizona’s only museum devoted solely to experimental contemporary art and new artist commissions, MOCA Tucson occupies a unique role in the cultural life of the region—presenting ambitious exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives that reflect the binational identities of the U.S.–Mexico borderlands.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gabriela Rangel to MOCA Tucson,” said Danny Vinik, President of the Board of Directors. “Gabriela joins us at an extraordinary moment of momentum, following the dynamic leadership of Julio César Morales and the award-winning curatorial vision of Laura Copelin. Her international reputation, expertise in institutional communications and publishing, and deep commitment to cultural equity will help lead the museum through these challenging times for arts institutions into an exciting new era.”
More recently, Rangel has served as a consultant in Mexico City and Artistic Director of MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires), where she led a strategic transformation of the museum’s programming and outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her accomplishments include curating landmark exhibitions, diversifying acquisitions for institutional collections, expanding digital platforms, and leading editorial projects and exhibition catalogues that are widely referenced in the field. Rangel made a solid reputation during her long-time tenure as Director of Visual Arts and Chief Curator at the Americas Society in New York. She previously worked at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Gabriela Rangel will succeed Laura Copelin, who joined the museum in 2019 and currently serves as Interim Director. Copelin will remain at MOCA Tucson as Deputy Director and Lead Curator, and will lead the museum’s special projects, including a reimagined Artist in Residency program.
“I am excited to join MOCA Tucson at a time when its work is both locally rooted and globally relevant,” said Rangel. “The museum’s artist-founded, community-responsive spirit and its commitment to borderlands culture make it a vital site for experimentation, difference, and exchange. I’m honored to collaborate with the team, artists, and audiences to imagine the next chapter together.”
Recent MOCA exhibitions—Cecilia Vicuña: Sonoran Quipu, Grace Rosario Perkins: The Relevance of Your Data, and Raven Chacon: While hissing—demonstrate the institution’s continued commitment to thought-provoking, inclusive, and critical contemporary art. In addition to its rotating exhibitions, MOCA Tucson continues to expand access to the arts through year-round educational and public programs that center intergenerational, LGBTQ+, and youth communities.
