[intro]Christoph Heinrich Named to Denver Museum Post[/intro]

The 49-year-old German joined the museum’s staff in October 2007, overseeing its modern and contemporary art department. In January, he was named deputy director, a position that served as a kind of audition for his new post.

He will replace Lewis Sharp, 67, who plans to retire at the end of December — 20 years after he took over as director.

The affable, 6-foot-3-inch Heinrich came to Denver from the large Hamburg Kunsthalle museum, where he served for seven of his 13 years as chief curator for contemporary art.

“He’s a quiet leader,” said board member Kent Logan of Vail. “He’s not a grandstander. He has solidity to him, if you will. His curatorial credentials are impeccable, and he brings an international perspective to bear, which I think is a new step for the museum.”

Denver Art Museum unveils new director (Denver Post)