New Delhi: India’s largest private art museum, the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi, has appointed Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Director Manuel Rabaté as its Chief Executive Officer.
In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Rabaté expressed his interest in working in South Asia, and especially his desire to engage deeply with Indian culture and institutions.
“I have always had a keen interest in South Asia, and in India in particular, for both its cultural richness and its institutional life. I am excited to be part of a project that will change the museum landscape of the subcontinent. My role will be transversal to the full life of the museum, engaging with all its activities, with the primary focus on ensuring readiness to operate at the highest international and regional standards, to serve India, its communities, and its visitors,” Rabaté said in a press release by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA).
Kiran Nadar, founder and chairperson of KNMA, described Rabaté as one of the most experienced and respected leaders in the international art world, noting that his role will help expand the museum’s global reach.
“Manuel Rabaté is one of the international art world’s most experienced and respected leaders, with a ten-year record of exceptional success heading the Louvre Abu Dhabi. As we prepare to inaugurate the new, greatly expanded Kiran Nadar Museum of Art—which, at over one million square feet, will be the largest museum and cultural centre in South Asia—we welcome Manuel Rabaté as CEO and Director with the vision and skills to achieve our highest aspirations,” said Nadar on the museum’s website.
Rabaté originally from France, served in Abu Dhabi since 2016. Prior to that, he headed the Agence France-Muséums. A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and HEC Business School, before starting his career in French cultural institutions, including the Louvre in Paris and the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac.
In 2016, Rabaté marked a major turning point in his career, when he was appointed the inaugural Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, where he oversaw gallery development, collection growth, international partnerships, and public programming roles.
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Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
The KNMA is a private modern and contemporary art museum in New Delhi, established in 2010 by art collector and philanthropist Kiran Nadar.
KNMA was among the first private museums in India dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary art, making artworks accessible to a broad public. It is sponsored by the Shiv Nadar Foundation and also organises art and cultural exhibitions and performances.
Rabaté will work with KNMA’s leadership team, including its two existing directors: Chief Curator Roobina Karode and Deepanjana Klein, who oversees acquisitions and development, as well as Nadar, who serves as chairperson.
With Rabaté spearheading the KNMA, it shows the museum’s intention to expand its mission beyond modern and contemporary art to embrace a broader historical and cultural spectrum, including antiquities, miniature paintings, and diverse artistic practices from across South Asia.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)