Leslie H. Zemsky, President of the Board of Directors of The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, governing body of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, announced an historic bequest to the museum by the late Peggy Pierce Elfvin tonight at the Academy’s Annual Meeting. Mrs. Elfvin’s extraordinary generosity will endow the position of the Albright-Knox Director in perpetuity and provide important operational support to the museum. Her gift of approximately $11 million, of which the Albright-Knox has received $8.6 million to date, represents one of the most significant bequests in the museum’s history. 

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Janne Sirén its eleventh Director. Dr. Sirén is the first director from the Nordic region to take the helm of a major American art museum. Speaking about the appointment, Albright-Knox Board President Leslie Zemsky said, “We are delighted Janne will be coming here to lead the Albright-Knox, and I know he is as excited as we are. He is an impressive scholar and visionary administrator who is able to embrace and connect local, national, and global stages in a relevant and viable way. He brings extensive experience and knowledge to the Albright-Knox in all areas of programming and also a passion for the Gallery’s growth and development. Janne is an extraordinary leader, and he shares our vision for the active role of the Albright-Knox in the growth and vitality of our community. He has a wealth of experience in promoting economic development and growth through cultural tourism, which is such a high priority for us here at the Gallery and in the Buffalo Niagara region.”