Kathryn Kanjo has been named the new museum director of the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. Kanjo, who is currently the David C. Copley Director and CEO at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, will take up her new post in February 2026. She will also be responsible for overseeing the UC Irvine Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute of California Art.
“This is a watershed moment for the visual arts in Orange County and beyond. The UC Irvine Langson Museum unites three celebrated California art collections – Irvine, Buck, OCMA – into a singular museum supported by UC Irvine’s commitment to critical inquiry and excellence,” Kanjo said. “I am honored to lead this newly formed organization, working alongside the talented museum team, world-class faculty, and brilliant UC Irvine students to provide all visitors exceptional museum experiences while also creating distinctive learning opportunities for students.”
The UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art was created in September 2025 after UC Irvine acquired the Orange County Museum of Art and merged it with its own Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art. The unified museum brings together more than 9,000 artworks from three significant California collections and aims to expand academic collaboration while continuing community engagement efforts.
UC Irvine now manages the 53,000-square-foot Costa Mesa facility at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where contemporary art exhibitions are presented alongside works from both the Gerald Buck and Irvine Museum collections. The Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute of California Art remains central to research activities and student education.
Chancellor Howard Gillman commented on Kanjo’s appointment: “Kathryn brings a tremendous combination of deep curatorial expertise and demonstrated visionary leadership at premier institutions throughout the country,” he said. “She is the ideal person to lead the museum during this transitional period and into an exciting new future.”
Kanjo will guide operational integration across both sites and help shape long-term plans for programming.
Her previous experience includes directing University Art Museum at University of California, Santa Barbara; serving as executive director at Artpace San Antonio; and holding curatorial positions at Portland Art Museum as well as Whitney Museum of American Art.
The combined institution focuses on public access, research, teaching, and creative partnerships in visual arts. Admission is free to visitors. More information about exhibits or programs can be found at uci.edu/langson-museum.
UC Irvine itself was founded in 1965. It is recognized as one of America’s top ten public universities by U.S. News & World Report (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-california-irvine-1314). With over 36,000 students enrolled across 224 degree programs, it is led by Chancellor Howard Gillman (https://uci.edu/about/leadership/index.php) and employs more than any other entity in Orange County except one (https://uci.edu/about/facts-and-figures.php), contributing billions annually to both local and state economies.
Media outlets interested in interviews may access an on-campus studio for radio use upon request; additional resources are available via https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.
