The Facts
On October 20, 2026, the Philadelphia Museum of Art announced the appointment of Dr. Chassica “Chaz” Kirchhoff as the J. J. Medveckis Curator of Arms and Armor. Kirchhoff joins from the Detroit Institute of Arts, where she served as Associate Curator of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, overseeing a collection of around 9,000 objects. She will begin her new role on November 30, 2026. The museum’s arms and armor collection comprises more than 1,300 objects, anchored by the 1977 bequest of Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch. Kirchhoff organized the exhibition "Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion" (2025–2027) and previously held an Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Signal
The appointment signals the museum’s commitment to its arms and armor collection as it approaches the 50th anniversary of the Kienbusch gift in 2027. Kirchhoff’s expertise in armor as fashion and material culture may bring new interpretive approaches, appealing to contemporary audiences. Her scholarly background and curatorial experience at major institutions position her to develop exhibitions that connect historical armor to broader cultural narratives.
- People: Dr. Chassica Kirchhoff, Daniel Weiss, Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch
- Museums: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Locations: Philadelphia, Detroit, New York
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
