New York State Parks Announces New Director of Olana State Historic Site
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced today the appointment of Fabienne Powell as the new Director of Olana State Historic Site in the City of Hudson, New York.
“Fabienne Powell brings an exceptional combination of curatorial expertise, preservation experience and strong connections in the Hudson Valley that make her ideally suited to lead Olana State Historic Site,” said New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Kathy Moser. “Her passion for art, history and stewardship will be invaluable as we continue to preserve Frederic Church’s extraordinary legacy while creating meaningful experiences for the more than 180,000 people who visit Olana each year. We are thrilled to welcome Fabienne to our Taconic Regional team and look forward to the leadership and perspective she will bring to this treasured historic site."
Bringing nearly two decades of curatorial and gallery management experience to one of the Hudson Valley’s most prestigious historic sites, Powell will support OPRHP’s mission to conserve, showcase, and interpret the works of Frederic Edwin Church and the Hudson River School – one of America’s earliest art movements. In this role, she will guide State Parks’ collaboration with The Olana Partnership, which oversees public programming at the historic site.
Olana State Historic Site was the 19th-century home, studio, and designed landscape of Church, his wife Isabel, and their four children. The 250-acre historic estate features an elaborately stenciled, Persian-inspired mansion filled with original sketches, studies, and paintings by one of the mid-19th century's most famous artists. The site is a popular destination for both patrons of the arts and local trail walkers. The site grants public access to the entire estate, which features the historic home, five miles of carriage drives, strikingly beautiful vistas, and the Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape, which frequently hosts public programming.
Director of Olana State Historic Site Fabienne Powell said, “I am deeply honored to return to New York State public service as Director for the Olana State Historic Site, a majestic locus of cultural and artistic significance. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with The Olana Partnership to honor our shared vision, ensuring that Frederic Church’s masterpiece continues to inspire, educate, and captivate visitors for generations to come.”
President of The Olana Partnership Sean Sawyer said, “We are thrilled to have Fabienne Powell join our partnership at Olana. She brings extensive curatorial expertise and experience and a strong working knowledge of New York State collections and conservation practices that will help guide The Olana Partnership’s curatorial and visitor services teams in their work.”
Fabienne Powell assumes leadership of Olana during a milestone year, as the site celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Edwin Church. Frederic Church 200 is a national initiative organized by The Olana Partnership with more than 50 participating institutions across the country and in Europe. The Olana Partnership has organized special programming and exhibitions honoring Church’s artistic achievements and enduring influence on American art and landscape design throughout 2026. Additional information about the Frederic Church 200 celebration can be found on The Olana Partnership website.
Prior to her position at Olana State Historic Site, Powell was the Studio Manager for Monument Art Conservation & Finishing, LLC., where she was responsible for client collections and conservation research, uncovering artists' intent, exhibition histories, and the provenance of pieces. She also performed regular maintenance on various works of art in this role.
Powell previously worked for the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) where she was the Assistant Director & Chief Curator for the agency’s Curatorial and Visitor Services Bureau. At OGS, she was responsible for the conservation, interpretation, and exhibition of art and historic objects held at the New York State Capitol, Vietnam Memorial Gallery, Governor’s Executive Mansion, and several State office complexes including the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza. Before entering public service, Powell served as the Assistant Curator and Exhibition Coordinator for The Opalka Gallery at Sage College of Albany.
Powell graduated from the University at Albany - State University of New York and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography and art history. She later attended John Hopkins University and graduated with a master's degree in museum studies.
The Olana Partnership is the cooperative nonprofit partner of New York State Parks at Olana State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark and a public work of art, architecture, and landscape.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
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