ST. LOUIS, MO.- Director Paul Ha announced that the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis has appointed Anthony Huberman to the position of Chief Curator. Huberman comes to the Contemporary with nearly ten years of experience as a curator, educator, and author at top international institutions including the Palais de Tokyo (Paris), SculptureCenter (New York) and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (New York).

Also joining the Contemporary's curatorial team is Laura Fried, who has been appointed to the position of Assistant Curator. Fried comes to St. Louis from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams, Massachusetts, where she was a Curatorial Fellow. Fried and Huberman will begin work at the Contemporary this summer.

“I am thrilled to announce this outstanding new curatorial team for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis,” said Director Paul Ha. “Anthony’s exceptional skills and innovative approach to curating make him an outstanding addition to the Contemporary’s leadership team. His curatorial vision, combined with Laura’s strong organizational skills and in-depth knowledge of contemporary art, create a strong curatorial team for St. Louis. I look forward to working with both of them to chart a bold and ambitious future for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.”

As Chief Curator, Anthony Huberman will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the exhibition and publication program at the Contemporary. He has curated several one-person and group exhibitions in New York and in Europe, a wide selection of special projects with emerging artists, as well as a broad range of performance and music events. Recent major exhibitions include Australian artist David Noonan’s first museum show in Europe and “Grey Flags,” a group show of international artists co-curated with Paul Pfeiffer that traveled from New York to Bordeaux, France. Huberman's recent positions include Curator at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2006-2007), Curator at New York's SculptureCenter (2003–2006), and Director of Education and Public Programs at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (1999–2003). He is widely credited with launching a number of innovative exhibitions and programs, including “WPS1,” the first-ever radio station run by an art museum. He has contributed articles to such publications as Art Forum, Art Review (London), Modern Painters, The Wire, and BOMB Magazine, has served on numerous panels and juries, and has lectured widely on contemporary art and curatorial practice. He remains tied to ongoing curatorial projects with collaborators in New York and Paris. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Huberman received a degree in Sociology from Georgetown University.

“I am excited by the fantastic opportunity to join the Contemporary and lead its curatorial program at this exciting phase of its growth,” said Huberman. “I look forward to working with Paul and the rest of the team to put the Contemporary on the national and international map as an exhibition venue of the highest quality with an artistic program that is in tune with the most current and relevant artistic practices.”

As Assistant Curator, Laura Fried will be responsible for overseeing a number of ongoing exhibition programs at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, including the Great Rivers Biennial, Contemporary Flat Files, and Visiting Critics and Curators programs. Fried recently curated exhibitions at MASS MoCA and also coordinated the 2007 Berkshire Conference which brought together international leaders in the arts and business communities to address issues facing the current cultural landscape. Fried received her Master of Arts degree in History of Art from Williams College.

Huberman and Fried join the Contemporary during a time of exceptional financial stability. The Contemporary has just completed a major fundraising campaign challenge, established by philanthropist Emily Rauh Pulitzer. Thanks to the generosity of many in the community, the Contemporary successfully met Mrs. Pulitzer's challenge by raising a $5 million endowment fund while maintaining a balanced operating budget every year since the museum's grand opening in September 2003. Mrs. Pulitzer, in turn, made a $5.4 million gift to the museum to pay off all remaining debt from the construction of the new building, which opened in September 2003. "The Contemporary is now debt-free and has a $5 million endowment before its fourth birthday – major accomplishments for a contemporary institution," said Director Paul Ha. "With this financial safety net in place, we can now turn our attention to creating the high-quality curatorial program necessary to establish St. Louis as one of the top places for contemporary art in the country."