Dr. Kit Maxwell Named Chair of Applied Arts of Europe

Dr. Christopher (Kit) Maxwell has been appointed as the Chair and Eloise W. Martin Curator of Applied Arts of Europe at the Art Institute of Chicago, following the retirement of longtime curator Ellenor Alcorn.

Maxwell, who joined the museum in 2022 as the Samuel and M. Patricia Grober Curator, brings a rich background in European ceramics and glass. His research focuses on how global trade and colonial expansion shaped European design, an approach that has broadened the department’s interpretive scope. During his tenure, Maxwell has contributed to major acquisitions, collection research, and narrative expansion within the department.

James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute, praised Maxwell’s leadership and collaborative work, saying:

“In just a few years, Kit has had a significant impact on the museum and the department. His work and collaboration played an essential role in the spectacular redesign of the recently opened Eloise W. Martin Galleries. We look forward to how his vision, expertise, and dedication will continue to build on the momentum of the department.”

The redesigned Applied Arts of Europe galleries, which opened in July, showcase more than 300 objects dating from 1600 to 1900—including furniture, silver, ceramics, and glass—all displayed with updated casework and lighting techniques. Maxwell co-curated the installation alongside Alcorn and the Barcelona-based architectural firm Barozzi Veiga.

Reflecting on his appointment, Maxwell said:

“I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with Ellenor during her time at the museum and have benefited enormously from her incredible experience and generous collegiality. This department has so much to offer visitors—from the Thorne Miniature Rooms to the newly designed ceramics gallery—and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with our audiences in new and exciting ways.”

Before joining the Art Institute, Maxwell served as Curator of Early Modern Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass, overseeing collections spanning 1250 to 1820. He curated several acclaimed exhibitions, including “In Sparkling Company: Glass and the Costs of Social Life in Britain During the 1700s,” which explored glass as a symbol of culture and status in 18th-century Britain.

Earlier in his career, Maxwell held positions with the Royal Collection Trust and the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Ceramics and Glass Section (2005–2010). He earned degrees from the University of Cambridge (BA), University of London (MA), and University of Glasgow (PhD), followed by post-doctoral research on Nazi-era Provenance at Glasgow and Caribbean Studies at the University of Warwick.

Maxwell’s appointment marks a new chapter for the Art Institute’s Applied Arts of Europe department, continuing its mission to illuminate the intersections of craft, culture, and history within European art and design.