The person behind the Frieze Art Fair, Victoria Siddall, has been selected as the next head of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Siddall would be the 13th president of one of the most recognizable galleries in the world. She would also be scripting history as the first female president in the gallery’s 168-year history. However, her selection was not without controversy. Siddall, who served in executive positions all her career, notably has no curatorial or administration experience.
Despite this, the NPG has welcomed Victoria Siddall with open arms. David Ross (Chairman) said: “[Siddall’s] strengths as a cultural leader are considerable, as is her knowledge of the art world, understanding of audiences and international profile. I know that she has the vision and determination to build on our recent successes and lead the next stage of the Gallery’s development, and I greatly look forward to working with her.” Speaking about her appointment, Siddall said: “I’m truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead the National Portrait Gallery, a museum that holds the world’s greatest collection of portraits and is unique in being about people and for people.”
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Victoria Siddall is perhaps best known for being part of the Frieze Art Fair, which she joined in 2004 just before its inaugural edition. Over the years, the art fair expanded to New York, LA, and Seoul, while Siddall rose to the position of global director of the fair. In addition, she also co-founded the Gallery Climate Coalition in 2020 – a group of over 1000 members committing to reducing their carbon footprint. She also served on the board of various organizations (including NPG, from July 2023 until she was appointed president this month).
