Paola Antonelli is the Senior Curator of Architecture and Design, and Director of R&D at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. A native of Milan, Paola moved to New York in her role at the MoMA and is known for her mission to expand the influence of design in everyday life. This is seen in her work as a curator, author, lecturer and speaker, not to mention her passion for the design of the 747 airplane. Paola let us in on her view of life in New York, her love of New Yorkers and a few exceptional corners to experience in the city.

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ON WHERE YOU’RE FROM

Milan, born in Sassari.  

ON MOVING TO NEW YORK

The job at MoMA. 

ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW YORK

An adult relationship, deep love and strong partnership, eyes wide open, warts and all.

ON WINDOW SEAT OR AISLE

Window. 

Above: The exterior of MoMA New York. Below: “Fashion Is Kale: A One-Day Event Celebrating Fashion’s Hidden Heroes”, MoMA, New York. Photo: Manuel Martagon.

ON HOW NEW YORK INSPIRES YOUR WORK

New Yorkers cheer you on, they want you to produce good work, they are inquisitive, they want to see you succeed!

ON SOMETHING YOU RECENTLY DISCOVERED

The First Calvary Cemetery in Queens––at night.

My relationship with New York…An adult relationship, deep love and strong partnership, eyes wide open, warts and all.

ON YOUR ROLE AT MOMA

Design is extremely important but underrecognized. I want to help citizens to be more aware of design so that they can develop their own critical sense; so that they can push back if they don’t feel that what is produced and presented to them is good enough, and be more involved.

ON A FAVORITE PIECE OF TRAVEL RELATED DESIGN 

The 747. I have dreamt of collecting one for MoMA. I am heartbroken it’s being retired.

Above: Installation View of the exhibition “Inbox: New Acquisitions 2016,” MoMA, New York. Photo: John Wronn. Below: “A Conversation about Emojis with Rachel Been” , MoMA, New York. Photo: Manuel Martagon.

ON A RECENT PROJECT

I am working on the XXII Triennale di Milano, ‘Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival’, highlights the concept of restorative design and studies the state of the threads that connect humans to their natural environments––some frayed, others altogether severed. It will open on March 1, 2019. 

ON CREATIVE INSPIRATION

On the subway because I love being surrounded by New Yorkers.

The 747. I have dreamt of collecting one for MoMA. I am heartbroken it’s being retired.

ON A FAVORITE RESTAURANT

The good old Odeon. 

ON A SPECIAL CORNER OF THE MOMA

The Sculpture Garden. 

ON NEW YORK IN ONE WORD

Invigorating.

Installation View of the exhibition “Items: Is Fashion Modern?,” MoMA, New York. Photo: Martin Seck. 

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