Taking a Step-by-Step Approach to Growth

The lineup of monographic exhibitions organized during his tenure, including shows of Diane Arbus, Olafur Eliasson, Eva Hesse, Sol LeWitt and Jeff Wall, may be where Mr. Benezra has put his strongest imprint on the museum.

“We’re trying to create a balanced diet between modern and contemporary, between popular and challenging,” said Mr. Benezra, who was a co-curator of the Wall show in conjunction with the Museum of Modern Art in New York. “It’s very important to me that we get people to come in and see a show of Calder or Matisse so that when you do Olafur Eliasson or Jeff Wall, your public has a base of knowledge about modern art that they can take to appreciate a younger contemporary artist.”