Karen Wong

Karen Wong is a cultural producer and creative strategist developing platforms that empower diverse artists by creating new opportunities, marketplaces, and business models. As the former deputy director of the New Museum (a contemporary art museum renowned for its entrepreneurial mission: new art and new ideas), Wong cofounded the initiatives IDEAS CITY (2010-2020), a malleable platform exploring the future of cities with the belief that art and culture are essential to our metropolises; NEW INC (2013-present), the first museum-led incubator for art, technology, and design; and ONX Studio (2019-present), a mixed-reality accelerator and exhibition space. These game-changing programs elevate creative practitioners and demonstrate art’s transformative power for cultural and social impact.

She lectures often on museum innovation and emergent culture. Recent talks include keynotes at museum conferences (Toronto, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Athens, Paris) and panels (SXSW, Frieze Art Fair, Kickstarter, Sotheby’s, A/D/O). She has been a frequent moderator for Apple and Google NYC.

Wong sits on the nonprofit boards of Apex for Youth, a mentoring and education program for underserved Asians; Arbutus, David Byrne’s foundation focused on performance and education projects; National Sawdust, a new music performance venue and incubator; Rhizome, a platform for born-digital art; and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.