Alexandra Deutsch has been appointed the John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, marking a new chapter and step forward inspired by a strategic direction for Winterthur that places American art, design, gardens, landscapes, and material culture at the forefront through compelling new stories and experiences.
Deutsch had served as director of museum engagement at Winterthur since 2019. The new appointment consolidates Winterthur’s collections, their conservation, and exhibitions under her leadership.
“Alexandra brings more than 20 years of solid museum experience to this position. She has distinguished herself throughout her career as an innovative curator as well as a scholar who has brought new perspectives and dynamic interpretation to the collections she has overseen,” said Carol B. Cadou, Charles F. Montgomery Director and CEO of Winterthur. “As a graduate of the Winterthur’s program in American material culture, she has a strong grounding in its collection, but brings a fresh energy and vision to how we present our holdings to the public. Since re-joining Winterthur in 2019, she has quickly distinguished herself with her work in the museum’s galleries, where she spearheaded a revitalized exhibitions schedule and brought a fresh tone and look to our installations. She brings the same creative thinking to her new expanded role.”
Deutsch looks forward to continuing her record of interpreting and building collections with an eye toward inclusivity and focus on relevance. At the same time, she will continue the tradition of sharing Winterthur’s expansive collection of American material culture with the public.
“Winterthur is a unique institution that excels at telling great stories with its remarkable collections and magnificent landscape,” said Deutsch. “I will continue to do so in ways the Winterthur community expects while charting new directions and engaging new communities. It is an exciting time to be looking to the future of the museum’s broad-reaching collections and conceiving of ways to bring new voices and new perspectives to how we discuss stories of the past while also inspiring dialogues about the present.”
Before joining Winterthur, Deutsch served as vice president for collections and interpretation at the Maryland Historical Society (now the Maryland Center for History and Culture) in Baltimore, Md., where she also maintained the role of chief curator throughout her decade-long tenure. Deutsch curated several nationally recognized exhibitions and brought an inventive and engaging interpretive approach to the museum and library collections. She also oversaw the museum’s publications department and library and guided community-based programming for diverse audiences. Deutsch previously served as a curator at both the Historical Annapolis Foundation in Annapolis, Md., and the Chapman Historical Museum in Glenn Falls, N.Y.
Deutsch earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in art history from Vassar College and a Master of Arts from the University of Delaware/Winterthur Program in Early American Culture (now American Material Culture). She completed fellowships at Historic Deerfield in Massachusetts and the Victorian Society of America in Newport, R.I.
Her publications include “Spectrum of Fashion” (2019), “Structure and Perspective: David Brewster Explores Maryland's Social Landscape” (2017), and “Woman of Two Worlds: Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte” (2016), all published by the Maryland Historical Society, as well as articles on American decorative arts and the history of fashion.
Winterthur, located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Del., and five miles south of U. S. Route 1, is closed on Mondays (except during Yuletide) and on Thanksgiving. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, $6 for ages 2 to 11. Memberships are available for free and discounted admission. Winterthur is committed to accessible programming for all.
For information, including special services, call 800-448-3883 or 302-888-4600.