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Curator Gavin Delahunty of the Dallas Museum of Art has resigned amid allegations of misconduct. Delahunty is best known for orchestrating the highly acclaimed 2016 exhibition “Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots.” Details regarding the exact nature of his offenses have yet to be determined.
On November 18, Delahunty sent the following statement to his colleagues via email:
Today I am announcing my resignation as the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, effective immediately. I am aware of allegations regarding my inappropriate behavior, and I do not want them to be a distraction to the Museum or to my colleagues. I offer my deepest apologies to those who have been affected by my behavior. I will be taking this time to spend with my family.
News of his departure shocked many, as it came abruptly and seemingly without warning. But a source familiar with the situation told ARTnews that outside counsel had been investigating Delahunty for quite some time, and that the museum had planned to terminate him.
Museum officials have remained silent on the issue thus far. Multiple requests for comment have gone unanswered.
Maxwell Anderson, who served as Director of the Dallas Museum of Art from 2012 to 2015, hired Delahunty in the spring of 2014. Shortly after the news broke, ARTnews reached out Anderson for comment, to which he responded:
I have great admiration for Gavin’s curatorial acumen, which is why I felt he would be a great addition to the DMA–and he accomplished a great deal in a short time. But in the end, we are all responsible for our personal conduct, as he has apparently accepted, and now has to address appropriately.
Prior to being hired on at the Dallas Museum of Art, Delahunty served as the Head of Exhibitions and Displays at Tate Liverpool from 2010-2014. It’s unclear as to how far these allegations go back.