Art fairs have had a tumultuous year, and now Art Basel, the 50-year-old juggernaut that operates events in Switzerland, Miami, and Hong Kong, is facing another surprise turn of events.

Noah Horowitz, the fair’s director of Americas, resigned on July 2, after six years on the job, a representative for Art Basel has confirmed to Artnet News.

News of Horowitz’s departure, which takes effect at the end of August, comes at a pivotal moment for the fair. Organizers are currently planning its rescheduled Swiss edition in Basel, now taking place in September instead of June. (The full exhibitor list is set to be released sometime next week.) Meanwhile, the Miami edition, which Horowitz helmed, has just finished accepting applications for its in-person fair this December.

Sources said the decision to part ways did not appear to result from any conflict. Horowitz is leaving “to pursue other opportunities,” a fair spokesperson told Artnet News. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Noah for his immense contribution to Art Basel and his instrumental role in growing our business in the Americas. We have greatly valued his leadership, dedication, and collegiality and would like to wish him the very best for his future pursuits,”

The search for a new director of Americas will begin immediately, and Horowitz, who previously ran the Armony Show, will work to ensure a smooth transition, according to organizers.

The Miami Beach Convention Center, where Art Basel take place each June, is currently a hospital and coronavirus testing site. Image courtesy of Art Basel.

“My passion for the mission of Art Basel makes this an incredibly difficult goodbye,” Horowitz said in a statement. “The past six years have been the most profound in my career, and I leave full of appreciation, admiration, and confidence in the world-class team behind Art Basel. I can’t wait to follow Art Basel’s trajectory as it stages its successful return to in-person shows this autumn and continues to reshape what the fair of the future can be.”