Harry Philbrick

Harry Philbrick (born 1958 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA) is the founding director of the nonprofit arts organization and future space for contemporary art, Philadelphia Contemporary. [1] From 2011 to 2016 he was Director of the Museum at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts[2], and previously, Director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum from 1996 to 2010.[3].

At PAFA, Philbrick developed new school and community education programs and strengthened the presence of contemporary art within the historic museum’s collection and exhibition program.[4] Philbrick started at The Aldrich Museum as Director of Education, developing the groundbreaking “Student Docent Program” that trained young people to lead tours for their peers. Under Philbrick’s directorship, the Aldrich expanded to increase exhibition space and create an education center and sculpture garden.[5]

Curated or co-curated exhibitions including:

• Living With Contemporary Art (1996, ISBN 978-1-888332-00-1)
• The Nude in Contemporary Art (1999, ISBN 978-1-888332-10-0)
• Ann Hamilton: Whitecloth (1999, ISBN 978-1-888332-09-4)
• Faith: The Impact of Judeo-Christian Religion on Art at the Millennium (2000, ISBN 978-1-888332-12-4)
• Janine Antoni: The Girl Made of Butter (2001, ISBN 1888332158)
• Contemporary Erotic Drawing(2005, ISBN 978-1-888332-24-7)
• Anselm Kiefer: Velimir Chlebnikov and the Sea(2006, ISBN 1888332298)
• Voice & Void: Hall Curatorial Fellow Exhibition(2008, ISBN 188833231X)
• Dive Deep: Eric Fischl and the Process of Painting(2012, ISBN 0943836417)