The leader of the Art Institute of Chicago, James Rondeau, has stepped away from his post amid an investigation into his behavior on a flight in April. The museum’s president and director since 2016, Rondeau voluntarily took time off as the independent investigation gathered information.
According to a CBS News report, police were called to the plane following reports of a passenger stripping off their clothes after drinking alcohol and taking prescription medication. Sources confirmed that Rondeau was the passenger involved in the incident.
Rondeau joined the museum in 1998 as an associate curator of contemporary art and has since made significant contributions to its collection, including the $400 million donation from collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson in 2015. He has also led major gifts, including a $75 million one from Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed last year.
However, Rondeau’s leadership has been marred by controversy, particularly regarding his handling of a pro-Palestine encampment on the museum’s grounds in 2024. The incident led to 68 students being arrested, prompting over 40 employees to write to Rondeau urging him to cut ties with board members with financial connections to Israel.
Source: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-institute-of-chicago-investigation-james-rondeau-1234740544