The Art of Leadership

Founded in 1897 and housed in the landmark Carnegie Mansion located on 91^st and Fifth Avenue, Cooper Hewitt—created by the Hewitt sisters—tells the story of design’s paramount importance in improving our world.

Who better to helm this creative museum than architect, design curator, and historian Maria Nicanor?

“The collection is incredible; I love being the keeper of this piece of history.” Especially since Cooper Hewitt is what she called, “a special New York City-based Smithsonian.”

Originally from Spain, Nicanor is passionate about public access to culture and rethinking the traditional roles of museums, realizations she arrived at during her storied career, which boasts leadership positions at high-profile museums, design and architecture firms internationally, as well as in the United States, and New York in particular.

“When I got invited to be part of the Cooper Hewitt process, I didn’t doubt for a second that I wanted to be a part of it because it has all the elements that I’ve always wanted to work around. First of all, its mission is designed-focused only, which was exciting to me. Second, it’s a Smithsonian, which means that it’s a public collection, and it’s a national museum, and that public mandate is important to me too.”

As director, she is very excited about celebrating the museum’s upcoming 50th anniversary in October, but also about having come to fruition something she has been trying to implement since she arrived three years ago: bringing the collection that’s in storage into the mansion.

“We’re talking of over 250,000 objects. This summer, the first floor is going to turn into the permanent galleries of the national collection of design called ‘Design Across Time.’”

She is also very proud that the Cooper Hewitt is very much part of Carnegie Hill. “There are many ways in which we connect to the local environments. We have the garden here that is open to the public. It’s a jewel of the neighborhood. We have many school programs. We just celebrated our career fair, where high school students get exposed to what a career in design could look like. It’s a life-changing event.”

For Nicanor, the joy of the job is her colleagues. “We’re in the business of longevity, and everyone on the team, about 100 people, is an expert in things that I know nothing about. I learn from them. They have a level of dedication and passion that is unmatched.”

When not leading the Cooper Hewitt, Nicanor spends time outdoors with her children, creating things with her hands, and gardening. “I like a good adventure in the city, exploring new neighborhoods and discovering other museums or cultural institutions. I’ve been in the city for more than 26 years, but there are always places to discover.”