The Transformative Power of Art: The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum's Amy Hau on Embracing the Unknown

By Julia Gamolina

Amy Hau is the Director of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, a position she started in January 2024. Previously, she led WXY architecture + urban design as Managing Principal, overseeing its expansion and management. Earlier, she served as Director of Administration and External Affairs at The Noguchi Museum, contributing significantly to its growth and renovation.

A resident of Astoria, Amy actively engages with the community, serving on Queens Community Board 1 and volunteering for various organizations. In her interview with Julia Gamolina, Amy talks about her thirty-year tenure with the museum and the application of her MBA, advising those just starting their careers to embrace the unknown.

JG: You studied fine art and then went on to get an MBA. Tell me about what you were hoping to do in the world with each degree, and what you learned about yourself through your studies.

AH: My undergraduate degree in painting and printmaking was more for personal fulfillment. Little did I know that after graduation, I would come to work for Isamu Noguchi and get a front row seat into the art world. It was not long before I was completely drawn into the running of Noguchi’s studio under the guidance of Noguchi’s business manager.

The MBA came later as my role at the Foundation and Museum evolved to include financial analysis and capital planning. The MBA was absolutely foundational in the managerial roles I have held — with an MBA, one does not have to go into banking and finance only, there are many opportunities in the arts for these skills.

I'm thrilled that you're the Director that will take the Noguchi Museum forward because you worked directly with Isamu Noguchi himself for many years. Tell me more about your evolution with the organization and your roles.

My journey in the art world traces back to 1986 when I embarked on a transformative chapter working directly with Isamu Noguchi himself. Those formative years provided an invaluable education, offering me a front-row seat to the inner workings of an artist's practice. Under Noguchi's guidance, I delved into every facet of his craft, from the intricate process of sculptural creation to the intricacies of managing public art commissions and curating exhibitions. It was during this time that my passion for the arts truly ignited.

In my nearly thirty years working for Isamu and the Isamu Noguchi Foundation, and then the consolidated 501(c)(3) Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum — our entity today — I was part of the growth from a group of a handful closest associates of Noguchi into an internationally known art museum. I’ve had my hand in almost every aspect of operations.

Following Noguchi's passing, I remained steadfast in my commitment to his legacy, dedicating myself to the preservation and promotion of his work. I played a pivotal role in the settling of his estate, and as the steward of his Foundation and Museum, I continue to uphold his vision and values. My trajectory in the art world has been defined by a deep-rooted admiration for Noguchi's artistic genius and a profound appreciation for the transformative power of art in society. Through my experiences, I have come to understand the immense responsibility that comes with preserving and showcasing an artist's legacy. It is a privilege to serve as the custodian of Noguchi's Foundation and Museum.

“I had to move fluidly between business development, financial management, communication, and many other aspects of operating a dynamic firm with exponential growth....I’ve learned that the key to any process is the people you work with.”

— Amy Hau

I first met you when you were with WXY! Tell me when and how you joined the firm, about your tenure there, and what from this experience you're bringing to your role now.

When I left The Noguchi Museum in 2015, I was looking for another dynamic creative situation. I was drawn to WXY as I had known its Founding Principal, Claire Weisz for some time and had admired her as an architect and an urbanist. The culmination of my passion for art and design and interest in the city made my transition to this civically minded firm a good fit.

As managing principal at WXY Studio I had to move fluidly between business development, financial management, communication, and many other aspects of operating a dynamic firm with exponential growth in the past eight years. I developed structures, implemented systems, and built teams to facilitate growth. All in all, I’ve learned that the key to any process is the people you work with, and I plan to continue cultivating and building our team here at The Noguchi Museum, helping us to reach our fullest potential.

Ethel & WXY together in Venice for a series of public performances at the Palaver Bench designed by WXY. Photo credit: Chiara Becattini.

What's ahead for the Noguchi Museum in 2024 and beyond? What are you most excited for?

My focus in the coming months is planning the celebration of the Museum’s 40th anniversary in 2025. Isamu had once described the Museum as his gift to the city, a city he loved. I am hoping to celebrate Noguchi’s New York with public programs around various NYC sites. We will be exploring partnerships — locally and throughout NYC — and I hope to have many partners help us celebrate our anniversary. Through the celebration, I hope people will visit or revisit the Museum with a re-installation of galleries as Noguchi had originally installed, which will span our second floor starting in late summer 2024 through our anniversary year.

“Embrace the unknown...Every challenge presents a chance to expand your skills and knowledge.”

— Amy Hau

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?

Covid-19 and so many of the social and cultural challenges that have been presented since are some of the biggest challenges faced by leaders across industries. While we were able to quickly set up remote work for staff at WXY for instance, the much longer lasting effects on the communities we serve persist, from affordable housing to food insecurity. These challenges call for all of us to work together to overcome them.

What have you also learned in the last six months?

I am recognizing the need to make time to listen. As any new leader stepping into an organization knows full well the importance of the listening tour in the first months, I find that it’s not a single session, but it is important to meet more than once… and the listening tour is an on-going process.

Amy Hau with Clare Shulman, Queensborough President (circa late 1980s or early 1990s). Photo courtesy of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum.

Who are you admiring now and why?

Toshiko Takaezu. It’s an inspiration and delight that the Toshiko Takaezu retrospective and traveling tour is the first exhibition to open under my new tenure. Not only was she a dear friend of Isamu’s, she was the consummate artist whose daily routine is creating in her studio, tending to her garden and sharing her process with students and apprentices.

What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?

In addition to my work in my professional roles, I give my time to serve on my local community board in Queens, as well as the boards of the Asian American Art Alliance and Socrates Sculpture Park. I look at this volunteer work as giving back to my community and the Asian American arts community.

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

Embrace the unknown. Instead of fearing what you don't know, see it as an opportunity for growth. Every challenge presents a chance to expand your skills and knowledge.