Brielmaier has more than two decades of nonprofit and private sector experience, and specializes in exhibitions, scholarship, strategic planning, digital strategy, and social impact initiatives. She received her PhD in art history from Columbia University, and has served on the New Museum Board of Trustees since 2016.

“Isolde possesses a truly unique combination of talents, affinities, and experience. These qualities coupled with her sound judgement and understanding of the many complexities facing our field, will serve the New Museum well in its next chapter ” New Museum Director Lisa Phillips said in a statement. “She is a great team player with a powerful collaborative spirit and a deep interest and commitment to the New Museum. We are honored and delighted that she is stepping into the role of Deputy Director as our wonderful colleague Karen Wong departs for new pursuits.”

Brielmaier has extensive museum experience including her current role as curator at large at the International Center of Photography in New York, and previously, as chief curator of exhibitions at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and curator at the Bronx Museum. She also served as curator at large for the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.

For six years she was executive director and curator of arts, culture, and community for Westfield World Trade Center and has been a curatorial and strategic consultant for Prospect 3 in New Orleans as well as Amazon Web Services’s first AI-based artist commission set to premiere this fall. She is currently an assistant professor of critical studies in the Tisch School’s department of photography, imaging, and emerging media at New York University. She serves in an editorial capacity for Graydon Carter’s media venture Air Mail.

At the New Museum, Brielmaier will oversee External Affairs, Marketing and Communications, and NEW INC, as well as media partnerships, publications, and visitor experience, among other areas. Holding a key position in the Museum’s executive leadership team, she will participate in policy and strategy decisions as the institution rebuilds its public presence in the aftermath of the global pandemic and the planning of the Museum’s expansion.

Brielmaier is succeeding Karen Wong, who first joined the museum in 2006. Wong served as deputy director for nine years and will continue to be associated with the institution as a creative consultant.