The University of Toronto Art Museum has announced the appointment of Denise Birkhofer as Curator, Academic and Collections Initiatives. Cross-appointed as Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Information, Birkhofer will foster new collaborations between the Art Museum and the Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) program.
Birkhofer brings more than fifteen years of professional experience in academic art museums, having previously held curatorial positions at the Grey Art Museum (NYU), the Allen Memorial Art Museum (Oberlin College), and the Image Centre (TMU).
Her expertise lies in modern and contemporary art and the photography of the Americas, encompassing Canada, the United States, and Latin America. Her research focuses on women artists, the intersections of performance and photography, and institutional collecting practices.
“I am thrilled to contribute to new initiatives in collections and academic engagement in this role at the Art Museum,” says Birkhofer. “I look forward to working closely with academic departments across the University to support experiential learning and professional development opportunities for students, while also leading special projects with the Art Museum’s vast and important collections.”
In her new role, Birkhofer will help strengthen connections between the Art Museum and the University’s academic community, including the Faculty of Information’s MMSt program.
Read the full press release: ArtMuseumUofT_PressRelease-NewCurators_June2026.pdf
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