Deborah Warner, the newly appointed artistic director of the Park Avenue Armory, is keenly aware that her new role comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. As she begins her tenure at this esteemed institution, Warner has set her sights on deepening interdisciplinary collaborations across theater, opera, dance, and visual art.
"We're not just about one discipline or another," Warner emphasizes in an exclusive interview with The Observer. "We're about the overlap between them, where they come together to create something entirely new and exciting."
For Warner, this approach is rooted in her own artistic practice, which has always been at the intersection of multiple disciplines. Her appointment as director of the Armory marks a natural progression for an artist who has spent years making innovative work across theater, opera, installation, and more.
One of Warner's earliest priorities will be to finalize the 2027 season, with a focus on maintaining the balance between various artistic disciplines that have proven so successful at the Armory. Her approach is one of inclusivity and exploration, seeking out artists who can push boundaries and create new hybrids between different forms.
While some may view the Armory's diverse programming as a challenge, Warner sees it as an opportunity to commission work that cannot be staged elsewhere in the city. "There's nowhere like the Armory in Europe," she notes, "and I'm thrilled to be in a position to invite artists across disciplines to create boundary-defying work that will never be seen anywhere else."
Warner also acknowledges the importance of exploring durational work, which has gained traction in recent years as people increasingly turn away from social media and streaming. Performance art, she believes, offers a unique form of shared experience and interactive ritual that is essential for our times.
As artistic director, Warner plans to deeply engage with the Armory's rich history, using its stunning Drill Hall and satellite rooms to create performances that not only showcase the building itself but also tell new stories about it. She sees this as a key aspect of her programming: embracing the past while pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Throughout our conversation, Warner's passion for innovative storytelling shines through, from her favorite shows at the Armory – including Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller's sound installations – to her vision for building on the Armory's legacy as a hub for artistic innovation. As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, it's clear that Warner is committed to making the Park Avenue Armory an even more vibrant and exciting destination for artists and audiences alike.
"We're not just about one discipline or another," Warner emphasizes in an exclusive interview with The Observer. "We're about the overlap between them, where they come together to create something entirely new and exciting."
For Warner, this approach is rooted in her own artistic practice, which has always been at the intersection of multiple disciplines. Her appointment as director of the Armory marks a natural progression for an artist who has spent years making innovative work across theater, opera, installation, and more.
One of Warner's earliest priorities will be to finalize the 2027 season, with a focus on maintaining the balance between various artistic disciplines that have proven so successful at the Armory. Her approach is one of inclusivity and exploration, seeking out artists who can push boundaries and create new hybrids between different forms.
While some may view the Armory's diverse programming as a challenge, Warner sees it as an opportunity to commission work that cannot be staged elsewhere in the city. "There's nowhere like the Armory in Europe," she notes, "and I'm thrilled to be in a position to invite artists across disciplines to create boundary-defying work that will never be seen anywhere else."
Warner also acknowledges the importance of exploring durational work, which has gained traction in recent years as people increasingly turn away from social media and streaming. Performance art, she believes, offers a unique form of shared experience and interactive ritual that is essential for our times.
As artistic director, Warner plans to deeply engage with the Armory's rich history, using its stunning Drill Hall and satellite rooms to create performances that not only showcase the building itself but also tell new stories about it. She sees this as a key aspect of her programming: embracing the past while pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Throughout our conversation, Warner's passion for innovative storytelling shines through, from her favorite shows at the Armory – including Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller's sound installations – to her vision for building on the Armory's legacy as a hub for artistic innovation. As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, it's clear that Warner is committed to making the Park Avenue Armory an even more vibrant and exciting destination for artists and audiences alike.
another one bites the dust... so the new art director at the Park Ave Armory thinks they can "push boundaries" 
good luck with that, we've seen a ton of art spaces try to do that and fail miserably in the last year alone 
. also, just because someone's doing some cool installations doesn't mean their whole season is gonna be on point 
. and durational work? people are so over "experiential" art right now... can't wait to see how many artists get left high and dry when everyone goes back to watching cat vids on tiktok 
.
like i think its awesome that deborah warner wants to bring all these different art forms together under one roof its already happening at our school with the music theatre festival every year where we get to see performances from all over the world and it feels so inclusive and exciting 
i love how she's talking about pushing boundaries and creating new hybrids like that would be amazing for our school to collaborate more with other departments like fine arts and tech 
And yeah, having artists push boundaries is exactly what we need more of in this world. Let's get weird and wonderful! 
. Her focus on interdisciplinary collaborations sounds like a dream come true for anyone who loves art that defies categories – me included 
. I'm also loving her idea of exploring durational work, like performance art, because let's be real, our world needs more immersive experiences 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that she wants to highlight the building itself in her performances? Like, who wouldn't want to experience a show that tells a new story about a historic landmark? 
This girl is gonna take the Armory to new heights (literally and figuratively) 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see boundary-pushing work that combines different forms? It's like they say, "the overlap between them" is where it's at! 
. We went to these insane music festivals that had like, 50+ stages and bands playing all night long. It was wild! Anyway, I'm still buzzing about it. Did you know that they have these amazing food trucks that serve the best vegan burgers ever? I'm totally making my own food truck business someday 
. I'm pretty sure I need to find out who did that and ask them for tips! By the way, have you tried that new VR headset everyone's been talking about?
her focus on inclusivity and exploration is so important too, especially when it comes to commissioning work that can't be done anywhere else in the city 
. Like, can you imagine a show that combines theater, dance, and visual art in this epic way? It's like a dream come true for artists who want to push boundaries 
. And I love how she's all about inclusivity and exploration - it's like she's speaking my language 
. Plus, her focus on durational work is totally on point right now 
. We're living in an era where people are craving more meaningful experiences, and performance art offers a unique way to connect with others. Warner's got this, and I'm so excited to see what she has planned for the Armory 
!
... like, who wouldn't wanna see some boundary-pushing performance art in the historic drill hall 
cant wait to see what she comes up with for the 2027 season 
. But what I'm really excited about is her idea of embracing the past while still making it fresh and new 
. It's gonna be super interesting to see what she does with that approach!
️. That kind of stuff just blows my mind. And yeah, I'm with her on embracing the past while innovating – have you seen that exhibit they did on the history of the Armory last year? Mind-blowing! 
... like who needs 5+ art forms under one roof? can't they just focus on something? 
also, what's with the obsession with 'interdisciplinary collaborations'? sounds like a fancy way of saying 'we have no idea what we're doing' 
... but hey, at least they'll be making money off the 'innovation' 
. can't wait to see what kind of 'shared experience' they have planned for us 
... sounds like it'll be a real snooze fest