Brett Littman will take on the role in October as the La Jolla institution celebrates record visitor numbers for its now-closed “Giants” exhibit.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has announced Brett Littman as its new director and chief executive, replacing Kathryn Kanjo, who left the La Jolla institution in January.

Littman, a museum executive, curator, writer and UC San Diego graduate, will take on the role in October, bringing with him more than 30 years of international experience.

The news comes as MCASD is celebrating the success of its now-closed exhibit “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.” 

“Giants,” which ran from April 19 through Aug 9, brought 2,324 visitors to MCASD weekly, compared with 722 to 1,065 weekly visitors for exhibitions going back to 2023.

Courtesy of Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

“Giants” also brought in noteworthy merchandise sales at The Shop, annual memberships and more.

Littman is “honored to be appointed the [eighth] director and CEO of MCASD at such a crucial moment in the Museum’s history,” he said in a statement.

As a UCSD student, Littman was profoundly influenced by MCASD’s programming, he added. “The opportunity to return to an institution that shaped my own intellectual and professional growth is incredibly meaningful.”

Littman is a “visionary museum leader whose experience spans some of the country’s most respected contemporary art institutions,” said MCASD board President Maryanne Pfister. “His ability to balance artistic ambition with organizational leadership, combined with his past personal connection to San Diego, makes him exceptionally well-positioned to guide the museum into its next era.”

“MCASD has the chance to define itself as a museum that is not only unique within Southern California, but useful, engaged and essential to interpreting contemporary culture and the future of this region,” Littman said. “I look forward to working with the board, staff, artists, supporters and communities across San Diego to develop this next chapter.”