Antoine van Agtmael’s tenure as chair of the museum’s board of trustees was extended through October 2023.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has announced the expansion of its board with the addition of Isha Ambani, Carolyn Brehm and Peter Kimmelman. The board approved the appointments for four-year terms to each of the new members effective September 23, 2021.
The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, are located on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The museum houses exceptional collections of Asian art, with more than 45,000 objects dating from the Neolithic period to today. Renowned and iconic objects originate from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, the ancient Near East and the Islamic world.
In addition to these new appointments, Antoine van Agtmael’s tenure as chair of the museum’s board of trustees was extended through October 2023. Dr Vijay Anand was named vice-chair of the board and Ambassador Pamela H Smith was appointed secretary of the board, it said in a press release.
“On behalf of my colleagues at the museum and across the Smithsonian, I am delighted to welcome these distinguished new members to our board and to congratulate our officers on their election,” said Chase F Robinson, the museum’s Dame Jillian Sackler Director.
“For a museum devoted to the arts and cultures of Asia, particularly in what is often regarded as the Asian century, there are special opportunities and responsibilities. As we mark our centennial in 2023, the vision and passion of these talented new members and officers will accelerate our efforts to make our collections and expertise more accessible and compelling, to expand our collection, and to join others in understanding and celebrating Asian arts and cultures. Our board is larger and more diverse than it’s ever been. I look forward to working with trustees and extend my gratitude for their service,” he added.
Ambani is a Director of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (Jio), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, headquartered in Mumbai, that owns businesses across India engaged in energy, petrochemicals, textiles, retail and digital services. She also serves as the Director of Reliance Foundation, India’s largest Foundation.
Brehm is a corporate executive and lecturer with more than 40 years of experience in global government relations, public policy and international business. She worked at two Fortune 100 companies and several non-profits over the course of her career in Washington, DC and Asia.Rejoining the board after serving as chair from 2015 to 2019, when his prior term expired, Kimmelman is a graduate of the Wharton School and Harvard Law School. He established Peter Kimmelman Asset Management LLC in 1979 and represents, among other entities, two Japanese financial institutions.
