The Board of Directors announces the appointment of Rafael Tamayo Franco as new director

Medellín, October 31, 2025 — The Board of Directors of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín announces the appointment of Rafael Tamayo Franco as the new director of the MAMM, a position he will officially assume on December 1, 2025. His selection followed a rigorous process undertaken after the resignation of María Mercedes González, who has directed the museum for the past thirteen years.

The process, led by the Board of Directors, included the participation of high-profile candidates from various sectors across the country. Following interviews and evaluations, Tamayo Franco was chosen for his extensive background in cultural management, international cooperation, and institutional leadership, as well as his solid academic training and commitment to culture, education, and sustainability.

Rafael Tamayo Franco holds a Ph.D. in History from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, a Master’s in International Law from the Université Paris II Panthéon Assas, a specialization in Business Law from the Universidad Externado de Colombia, and degrees in Theology and Law from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Over more than 17 years of his career, he has directed public and private cultural and educational institutions such as the Museo de Memoria de Colombia, the Red de Bibliotecas Públicas de Bogotá (BibloRed), and the Bienal Internacional de Arte de Antioquia y Medellín 2025, in addition to having held positions at the Ministerio de Cultura and international organizations such as UNESCO.

During her tenure, the current director, María Mercedes González, will carry out with Tamayo Franco a rigorous, thorough, and necessary transition process that will ensure institutional continuity and the strengthening of the museum in its new phase. The Board of Directors thanks and acknowledges the legacy of leadership, growth, and international projection that María Mercedes González leaves after thirteen years leading the MAMM.

With this appointment, the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín reaffirms its commitment to contemporary art, critical thinking, and culture as an engine of social transformation, and welcomes Rafael Tamayo Franco, trusting that his experience and vision will contribute to continuing to consolidate the MAMM as a cultural benchmark in Colombia and the region.