SARAH ARISON
President of The Museum of Modern Art’s Board
The most consequential arts philanthropist of her generation, Arison just took over as the president of The Museum of Modern Art’s Board after luring Connie Butler from California to helm its sister institution, MoMA PS1.
WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT? My kids. Oh, and also that we live in a country where hate speech, racism, and antisemitism is acceptable; women have no rights over their own bodies; and climate change isn’t real. It’s difficult not to be unsettled by that.
IF YOU COULD ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO A SINGLE QUALITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? When I moved to New York, I just started showing up—for artists, for friends, for institutions. I was dedicated to getting to know all the organizations, the work they were doing, and the people involved. Over the past 20 years, I have seen so much and met so many people, and that’s why I’m able to do the work that I do. I am so lucky to be part of this incredible community.
“Collaboration! It’s the only way we will make it through the challenging times we are facing.”
WHO DO YOU CALL THE MOST? Michi Jigarjian. I consider her my sounding board for so much. We both sit on the board of YoungArts [whose board I chair] and MoMA PS1, and she also chairs Baxter Street and is on the board of the Brooklyn Museum. And she builds hotels. And she’s an amazing collector and phenomenal supporter of artists. And she has three kids. She’s the most incredible, supportive friend ever.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN YOUR INDUSTRY? Collaboration! It’s the only way we will make it through the challenging times we are facing.
in your life?
