NEW YORK—Larry Gagosian has hired the famed Picasso biographer John Richardson as an adviser for the new gallery specializing in 20th-century art that he plans to open in the same building as his current uptown space at 980 Madison Avenue, the New York Times reports. Richardson said he will help organize exhibitions, particularly those including Picasso works. Gagosian already has three galleries in Manhattan, two in London, one in Los Angeles, and one in Rome.

NEW YORK—London's Albion gallery has chosen David A. Ross, former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, to head its new SoHo operation. Albion, which opened in 2004 and represents artists from all over the world, told ARTINFO it will open offices in SoHo first, followed by a specially commissioned, architect-designed gallery which will serve as both Albion's New York headquarters and an exhibition space. Ross began his career in 1971 when he was named the world's first curator of video art at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, N.Y., and he has organized more than 100 exhibitons of 20th century art. He also has written about art and lectured at museums and universities around the world.

LONDON—Lisson Gallery has appointed Greg Hilty as its new curatorial director. Hilty, who joins the gallery on May 6, is currently the director of Plus Equals, an agency that he founded with the University of Arts London to foster collaborations between artists and businesses. His past positions include the former director of arts for London Arts and former director of visual arts and literature for the Arts Council England's London office.

NEW YORK—Jeffrey Weiss, the director of the Dia Art Foundation, has announced his resignation. Hired only nine months ago, Weiss told the New York Times that he did not feel qualified for the job. He cited inexperience with the large amount of administrative duties and a disappointment with the discrepancy between directing and curating as his reasons for leaving. Weiss is the second director to leave in only two years. Nathalie de Gunzburg chairwoman of the foundation’s board, stated that the search for a new director will not begin immediately.

Farewells
NEW YORK—Art dealer Alec Wildenstein died February 18 at the age of 67, the Times (London) reports. Wildenstein was involved with the management of the Pace Wildenstein gallery, which was formed in 1993 by a merger between Wildenstein's family gallery, Wildenstein & Co., and Pace Gallery. He was heir to a family art collection that is famous for being both unseen and one-of-a-kind. Wildenstein also managed his family's French racehorse stables, Ecurie Wildenstein.