Dallas Contemporary (DC) has announced the hire of a new leadership tandem. John McBride, formerly Deputy Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, has been appointed Interim Director, and Jeremy Strick, former Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, has been appointed Strategic Advisor.
The two longtime arts professionals will take the helm of the noncollecting museum during a time of transition, leading what DC terms in a press release a “multiyear planning period.”
In a joint statement, Ann McReynolds and Rod Sager, DC Board Co-Presidents, said, “We are taking this time of transition as an opportunity to plan, thoughtfully and with care, a resilient future for Dallas Contemporary and its mission of providing a platform for contemporary artists in dialogue with our community. John McBride is the strategic and steadying force we need in this moment and, with counsel from Jeremy Strick, we have a leadership team in place that will allow us to build for the long-term while continuing to present a robust program.”
Mr. McBride held several positions at the Nasher, including Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director of Operations and Finance, overseeing budgeting and managing all museum operations. Appointed Interim Director of the Nasher following Mr. Strick’s retirement in 2024, Mr. McBride led the museum through a major survey exhibition of British sculptor Antony Gormley. At DC, he will manage daily operations of the museum, to include programming and curatorial direction, staffing, and financial stewardship, while helping to shape longer-term priorities for the institution.
In a press release, Mr. McBride said, “With its singular focus on presenting the art of our time, Dallas Contemporary is an essential part of the cultural landscape of our community. At a moment when the voices of contemporary artists are more urgent and necessary than ever, I am honored to join DC and look forward to working alongside the Board and staff to lay the groundwork for this institution to thrive.”
Mr. Strick led the Nasher for 15 years beginning in 2009, establishing the $100,000 Nasher Prize in 2015 to recognize excellence in contemporary sculpture. Prior to his term at the Nasher, Mr. Strick was Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles from 1999 to 2008, and has held senior curatorial positions at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
With four decades of experience as a museum professional, Mr. Strick will advise on DC’s mission, governance, and curatorial programming. “Dallas Contemporary has a long history of ambitious and thought-provoking programming featuring contemporary artists from our community and around the world. Working with John McBride and the DC Board, we will create a vision for a curatorial program that remains true to these roots,” he said.
The institution has undergone turnover at the leadership level in recent years. Lucia Simek announced her departure from the position of Executive Director in December 2025, following a term as Interim Executive Director after the departure of Carolina Alvarez-Mathies in September 2024. A major survey exhibition of Dallas artist Ike E. Morgan, planned for April through August 2026 was canceled, though Tammy Cotton Hartnett, DC Board Vice President, has said that revisiting the potential for rescheduling the exhibition is possible.
The solo exhibition Francisco Moreno: Historia Sintética is on view through Sunday, August 30, and summer exhibitions programming is soon to be announced, according to Ms. Hartnett.
Visit the DC website to learn more about its exhibitions and programming.