Johanna Burton Outlines Her Plans for ICA Philadelphia’s Next Chapter

By Dan Duray for Observer

August 20, 2025

Last month, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia announced that Johanna Burton would serve as its next director. In something of a coastal swap, Burton comes from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and replaces Zoë Ryan, who left in January to become the next director of the Hammer Museum. Observer recently caught up with Burton to hear more about her vision for the role and what lies ahead.

 

Congratulations on the new position! Why did you want this job? What makes you excited about the prospect?

The ICA is a place I’ve always looked to as a model institution. From the start, it has been a home and a platform for artists to truly experiment, and for audiences to encounter new art and new ideas through mutual engagement. It’s no overstatement to say that since I first learned about the ICA, I have hoped to join it. I’m beyond honored and so excited to partner with the staff of the museum and the university at this pivotal moment and to imagine the next era of the ICA.

 

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