Ellen D. Reeder, a former curator at the Walters Art Museum, has been named director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington.
Reeder, who was curator of ancient art at the Walters from 1984 to 1999, will assume her new post Monday. Until recently, she was deputy director for art at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, where she was responsible for collections, curatorial activities, exhibits, education, conservation and reference libraries.
"I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and look forward to bringing the work of this exceptional museum to an even larger national and international audience," Reeder said in a statement.
At the Walters, Reeder organized such groundbreaking exhibits as "Pandora: Women in Classical Greece" and the international traveling shows, "Gold of the Nomads: Scythian Treasures from Ancient Ukraine" and "Land of Winged Horsemen: Art in Poland, 1572-1764."
A native of Baltimore, Reeder is the author of four books and more than 40 articles and has taught at George Washington University and the Johns Hopkins University.
Hiram Woodward, acting director of curatorial affairs at the Walters and a former colleague of Reeder in Baltimore, said the staff there "remember well the enthusiasm, vigor and incisiveness with which Ellen tackled every challenge. These qualities surely will serve her well in her new position."
The National Museum of Women in the Arts opened in 1987 with a mission of celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts. Its permanent collection includes works by more than 800 artists, including Mary Cassatt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Elizabeth Catlett, Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler and Louise Bourgeois.
Reeder replaces Nancy Risque Rohrbach as NMWA director. The Brooklyn museum has named Marc Mayer, director of the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto, to fill Reeder's job.
