in december 2010 he founded the department of olfactory art at the museum of arts and design in new york city. in december 2010, burr left "the new york times" to curate the exhibition "the art of scent: 1889-2011" at the museum of arts and design in new york city, which allowed visitors to experience seminal works by some of the greatest scent artists of the late-19th, 20th and early-21st centuries such as jean-claude ellena, ernest beaux, and jacques cavallier. "the new york times" reported that when asked about his refusal to display packaging or bottles, burr replied "[t]he smell [is] the work of art. i’m opposed to the photon. if you have to see it, i’m not interested."