The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) announced that Karol Wight, the Museum’s President and Executive Director, will retire pending the completion of a search for her successor by the Board of Trustees. Wight—who started at CMoG in August 2011—has overseen a period of tremendous growth and visibility for the Museum, including the creation of the Digital Media department, the opening of the Contemporary Art + Design Wing, and most recently the Studio expansion project, which has new and expanded programming and cements CMoG’s place as an international leader in glassmaking education.
“Next year marks the 75th anniversary for the Corning Museum of Glass and will also be my 15th year with this museum; between these two anniversaries I have determined that the time is right for me to retire,” said Wight. “During my tenure, the Museum has grown, evolved, and become the world’s leading institution dedicated to the study of glass in all its forms. That work has been driven by our smart, talented, and innovative staff—an asset no less important than the collection we steward. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with this team, and with our dedicated Board of Trustees. I know that I will be leaving this robust institution poised for future success in their capable hands.”
The Board of Trustees has established a Search Committee, chaired by Jeff Evenson, which will work with an executive search firm to conduct an international search for Wight’s successor. Updates on the search process will be shared periodically with staff, supporters, and the broader community.
“The Board of Trustees is deeply grateful for Karol’s exceptional leadership over the past 15 years,” said Jeff Evenson, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Her vision, expertise, and dedication have strengthened the Museum’s position as the world’s foremost authority on the art, history, science, and design of glass. In so many ways, Karol’s legacy here is one of transformation. From the galleries and studios that our audiences and visiting artists experience, to the quality and quantity of programming we present, the Corning Museum of Glass is a different place than the one Karol took over in 2011—for the better in every way. We appreciate her commitment to remain in her leadership role throughout this process and to ensure a smooth transition for her successor.”
In a news release, the Museum cited that under Wight’s leadership, the Corning attraction has transformed from a smaller museum with a focus rooted in the history of glass, to one that is inclusive of the past and present of glassmaking. Wight’s accomplishments include the 2015 opening of the Contemporary Art + Design Galleries, dedicated to exploring the innovative and creative use of glass in contemporary contexts and which created 26,000 square feet of new spaces to present works by both established and emerging artists and designers from around the world. More recently, the Museum’s Studio expansion project added another 40,000 square feet of space to enhance its educational and interactive offerings. By providing more space for glassblowing and hands-on workshops, and with new state-of-the-art facilities and programmatic capabilities, this expands CMoG’s role as an institution supporting the artists of today—and creates opportunities for visitors to engage more deeply with the art of glassmaking.
Beyond the campus expansion projects, Wight has had an impact on other areas of the Museum’s work. At the Rakow Research Library, Wight’s leadership has supported tremendous growth in digitized online resources and a heightened emphasis on artists’ archives supporting new discoveries and research. In 2016, Wight curated the exhibition Ennion and His Legacy: Mold-Blown Glass from Ancient Rome, which showcased the groundbreaking work of this ancient Roman glassmaker, known for his innovative mold-blown glass techniques. The show featured a collection of intricate and beautifully preserved glass vessels, highlighting Ennion’s influence on Roman glassmaking and his enduring legacy and impact on centuries of glass artists. Wight’s focus on our future financial sustainability led to the formation of the Museum’s Advancement Department, and to developing new relationships with glass lovers across the globe who support the institution.
Wight also drove the establishment of the Museum’s first cross-institutional team focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion in 2017, which led to the adoption and implementation of CMoG’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEI&A) Strategic Plan in 2023. This plan now guides the Museum in implementing programs to increase representation in its exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational offerings, ensuring that a wide range of voices and perspectives are featured. Additionally, the Museum has developed accessibility features to make the Museum more welcoming and inclusive for visitors with disabilities.
Prior to joining Corning Museum of Glass, Wight, a specialist in ancient glass who received her doctorate in Art History from UCLA, served as Senior Curator of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Wight’s expertise resulted in President Barack Obama appointing her to a U.S. State Department advisory post on the Cultural Property Advisory Committee, where she served from 2017 until 2022. Wight remains an active participant in the larger U.S. museum community, having served as a trustee of the American Alliance of Museums for six years and, since 2012, as a member of the Task Force on Cultural Property of the Association of Art Museum Directors.
