Interior designer and civic leader Elizabeth Himelfarb Hurwitz has been elected chair of the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees. She succeeds James Thornton, who has served as chair since 2022.
A Baltimore native and resident, Hurwitz has been a BMA board member since 2020 and has taken on several leadership and volunteer roles at the museum.
Hurwitz led the board’s 2026 strategic planning initiative, which is instrumental in shaping its vision for the future. She is a past chair of the board’s Marketing and Audience Development Committee and has been a longstanding member of the Accessions Committee for the Arts of Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands. She is also a trustee of the Bryn Mawr School and Baltimore Center Stage.
Hurwitz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University. Her professional career has spanned publishing, public health and innovation, with particular focus on HIV, disability, and health equity. She was a writer and editor at Archaeology Magazine. She currently heads Elizabeth Hurwitz Interior Design LLC. She and her husband, David, are the parents of two children.
“Elizabeth’s leadership, intellectual rigor and generosity of spirit make her an exceptional choice to lead our Board of Trustees,” said Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director, in a statement. “She approaches art with boundless curiosity, empathy, and a profound belief in its capacity to bring people together. Through her leadership of our strategic planning process and her longstanding commitment to the museum, Elizabeth has shown a deep understanding of the BMA’s role as both a steward of extraordinary collections and a welcoming civic space. I am thrilled to partner with her as we continue building a museum that is more relevant, responsive, and connected to our communities.”
“Art has the power to transform how we see ourselves, one another, and our city,” Hurwitz said in a statement. “I have long believed that art is a tool of civic alchemy, helping communities unlock creativity, empathy, and possibility. The BMA has been an important part of my life since childhood, and it is an extraordinary honor to serve as Board Chair. I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees, the museum’s leadership, staff, supporters and community partners to advance the BMA’s mission and ensure that it remains a vibrant and welcoming cultural resource for all.”
