PHOENIX (October 21, 2025) – Phoenix Art Museum announces the election of Oliver Badgio, Alexander Bradley, and Jennifer Condas to its Board of Trustees. Chaired by Donald C. Opatrny, Jr., a private investor and philanthropist, the Museum’s Board of Trustees serves as fiduciaries and stewards of the largest visual-arts organization in the American Southwest. The new Trustees bring a range of professional expertise and philanthropic leadership that will strengthen the Board’s capacity to guide Museum growth, advance its strategic priorities, and expand its reach to new audiences. Serving a three-year team renewable up to three terms, the new Trustees will continue to empower the Museum, under the leadership of Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, to impact the Valley’s ever-evolving community, while also helping to bolster the Museum’s reputation as a vital arts institution and resource for regional and national audiences.  

“We are truly honored to welcome Oliver, Alexander, and Jennifer to the Phoenix Art Museum Board of Trustees,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “With their esteemed careers across finance, marketing, hospitality, the arts, and non-profit leadership, they bring an abundance of unique experience and invaluable insight that will prove impactful to our strategic priorities of advancing community impact, fostering cultural growth, and strengthening the Museum’s role as a cultural cornerstone in the Southwest.” 

Oliver Badgio is the Chief Brand Officer of Prime Steak Concepts, a renowned restaurant group behind luxury dining brands such as Steak 44, Steak 48, Dominick’s Steakhouse, Ocean 44, Ocean 48 and Durant’s Steakhouse. Based in Scottsdale, Badgio began his career in 1992 under the mentorship of James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Michael and Jeffrey Mastro and their father, Dennis. Rising through the ranks from a bar-back to his current leadership role, he has been instrumental in helping to shape the company’s brand and public relations strategies. Badgio is deeply involved as the steward of the Mastro Family’s generosity in philanthropy and community service, representing Prime Steak Concepts and the Mastro Family’s interests and serving on the boards of directors for Make-A-Wish Arizona, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Charlotte Ballet in North Carolina, and Phoenix Suns Charities. He is also a Trustee of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and a member of both the Orange County Business Commission and Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL). Along with his new term of service on the Board of Phoenix Art Museum, Badgio has also joined the board of Phoenix Theatre to deepen support of the performing and visual arts, which have been a long-time passion of the Mastro family. Badgio is a member of The Union League Club in Philadelphia and Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, CA. He resides in Scottsdale with his wife and two children.

Alexander Bradley is the Chief Financial Officer of First Solar, Inc, a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced, eco-efficient solar modules. He joined First Solar in May 2008 and previously served as Vice President of both Treasury and Project Finance, leading or supporting the structuring, sale, and financing of more than $10 billion and approximately 2.7 GW of the company’s worldwide development assets, including several of the largest PV power plant projects in North America. From 2016 to 2018, Bradley also served as an officer and board member of 8point3 Energy Partners, a publicly listed company that owned and operated PV assets. Prior to joining First Solar, Bradley worked at HSBC in investment banking and leveraged finance in London, Hong Kong, and New York, covering the energy and utilities sector. He received his Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Bradley resides in Phoenix with his wife and two children. 

Jennifer Condas is an art historian, philanthropist, and dedicated Museum supporter with decades of leadership experience in the arts and non-profit sectors. At PhxArt, Condas serves as co-chair of the Circles of Support Advisory Committee, committed to making the premier membership program one of the most dynamic and inspiring museum support groups in the country. She also serves on the Board the Arizona Costume Institute as the 2025–2026 Membership Chair and is an active Docent, specializing in student tours and co-editing The Docent Times. Condas’ philanthropic impact extends well beyond Phoenix. In Orange County, CA, she co-founded The Dream Guild where she supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (now Breakthrough T1D) for 25 years. She also served three terms on the Orange County Chapter Board of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, chairing four major galas. Additionally, Condas held a 10-year leadership role with Visionaries, the largest support group of the Orange County Museum of Art, where she co-chaired Art Studies. Along with this experience, Condas has chaired and hosted more than 30 charitable fashion shows, galas, luncheons, and in-store events for organizations including The Harvesters and UC Irvine’s Friends of Art History (FOAH). She has hosted more than 20 events and lectures in her home, supporting causes from student art grants to food insecurity. Condas holds a BA in Art History and an MA in History with an emphasis in Visual Studies from the University of California, Irvine. Her graduate thesis on Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and the founding of the Museum of Modern Art inspired an ongoing passion project, a book called Mother’s Museum – Abby Aldrich Rockefeller: Modern Art Matron and Museum Builder, which she hopes to publish one day.

The Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum has served as the governing body of the Museum since its founding in 1959. All Trustees are nominated by the Board’s nominating and governance committee and are elected by the general Board. Each Museum Trustee serves a minimum of one three-year term, with the opportunity to renew up to three terms. The Museum’s Board of Trustees now numbers 45 total Trustees, including five Honorary Trustees and one ex-officio member. 

For more information about the Museum’s Board of Trustees or to schedule interviews with incoming Trustees or other Museum representatives, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org or press@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum names newest class of appointments to its Board of Trustees appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (June 20, 2025) – Phoenix Art Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Ting Zeng as the institution’s new Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Zeng will provide strategic oversight of financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, including for the Museum’s endowment. Prior to the appointment, she served for five years as the Museum’s controller. Her new role at Phoenix Art Museum takes effect immediately.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Ting Zeng to the executive team at Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “As we prepare the institution for growth and greater sustainability over the coming years, Ting’s wealth of expertise in the non-profit and public-accounting sectors, coupled with her strong, steady leadership style, will be critical to the financial stability of the institution.”

Zeng has nearly two decades of combined professional experience in public accounting and industry and more than 10 years of experience in not-for-profit financial management. Prior to joining the Museum, she served as Controller at Crisis Response Network (now Solari Crisis and Human Services.), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in need by creating and managing comforting and supportive programs and processes that help them through crisis. In that role, she was responsible for management of all accounting functions, annual budgets, and financial policies and procedures.

Previously, Zeng held the positions of finance and budget manager at Lifewell Behavioral Wellness (now merged with Terros Health), as well as auditor and consultant roles at BDO USA, Clifton Gunderson (now CLA-CliftonLarsonAllen), and KPMG. She earned a Master of Accountancy and Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Management from Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business. Zeng is also a licensed CPA and a Certified Internal Auditor.

For more information, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org or press@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art and fashion of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and art experiences. Each year, more than 250,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions, as well as the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion. The Museum also presents vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson and is home to The Gene and Cathy Lemon Art Research Library, The Thorne Miniature Rooms, The Ullman Center for the Art of Philip C. Curtis, and Arizona Costume Institute (ACI). For the community, PhxArt hosts lectures, live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education workshops, family-focused programs, and more. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880. 

The post Phoenix Art Museum appoints new Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (June 17, 2025) –Phoenix Art Museum announces the addition of two new Trustees comprising its governing board. Chaired by Donald C. Opatrny, Jr., a private investor and philanthropist, the Museum’s Board of Trustees serves as fiduciaries of the largest visual-arts organization in the American Southwest. The new Trustees bring a range of professional and philanthropic experiences and will continue to empower the Museum, under the leadership of Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, to anticipate and meet the needs of its ever-evolving local, regional, and national communities. The new Trustees include Catherine Tuton and Jeannine Gillikin, each of whom will serve a three-year term renewable up to three terms.

“We are truly honored to welcome Catherine Tuton and Jeannine Gillikin to the Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Catherine and Jeannine have been unwavering champions of the Museum through their passionate involvement with the Arizona Costume Institute and the contemporary art department. With their illustrious careers in their respective fields, they bring an abundance of experience and insight to their roles as Trustees. As we embark on this pivotal chapter in the Museum’s history, their contributions will be invaluable.”

Catherine Tuton has a passion for serving her community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. With a love for philanthropy and a heart for giving back, she has been actively involved in various charitable endeavors over the past three decades. She embarked on her early career as an interior designer, bringing beauty and functionality into people’s lives through her creative vision. However, her desire to make a difference extended far beyond the realm of interior design. She felt a calling to serve others and contribute to the betterment of society, leading her to become actively involved in a variety of charitable organizations, both in California and Arizona. Tuton has served at Girl’s Inc., A21, Phoenix Heart Ball, American Heart Association’s Women of Impact, Go Red for Women’s Executive Team, CASA, Working Wardrobes, UMOCA, Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent De Paul, Arizona Costume Institute, Orange County Food Bank, Arizona Women’s Board, and the HonorHealth Women’s Board. Together with her husband, Jim, Tuton serves a variety of organizations both locally and beyond through their foundation, the JDT Family Foundation.

Jeannine Gillikin is a Senior Partner at PwC who specializes in providing tax advice on merger and acquisition transactions. She has extensive experience advising private equity buyers on complex deals, with an emphasis on designing international structures. During her 30+ year career at PwC, Gillikin has worked in the firm’s San Francisco, London, Chicago, and Boston offices. She has also served in various firm and client leadership roles and is the Global Lead Tax Partner for several of PwC’s private equity funds. She leads a diverse team that delivers a broad range of consulting services and considers her most rewarding role to be mentoring her team, particularly her female colleagues. Gillikin and her husband, Ben, relocated to Paradise Valley in 2022 after spending 25 years in the San Francisco Bay Area with their five children. Their move to the Phoenix area has sparked a newfound passion for collecting art, and Gillikin considers her experience with the arts a highlight of her time in Phoenix. Gillikin has a passion for focusing her impact on the community immediately surrounding her, and while PhxArt’s expansive reach makes it an exciting institution to work with, she is most excited about the positive impact it has on the local community.

The Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum has served as the governing body of the Museum since its founding in 1959. All Trustees are nominated by the Board’s nominating and governance committee and are elected by the general Board. Each Museum Trustee serves a minimum of one three-year term, with the opportunity to renew up to three terms. The Museum’s Board of Trustees now numbers 42 total Trustees, including four Honorary Trustees and one ex-officio member.

For more information about the Museum’s Board of Trustees or to schedule interviews with incoming Trustees or other Museum representatives, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org or 602.257.2105. For a copy of this news release translated into Spanish, contact press@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art and fashion of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and art experiences. Each year, more than 250,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions, as well as the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion. The Museum also presents vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson and is home to The Gene and Cathy Lemon Art Research Library, The Thorne Miniature Rooms, The Ullman Center for the Art of Philip C. Curtis, and Arizona Costume Institute (ACI). For the community, PhxArt hosts lectures, live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education workshops, family-focused programs, and more. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum announces newest class of appointments to its Board of Trustees appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (May 30, 2025) – Phoenix Art Museum has selected Jessica Jacobson to serve as the Museum’s new Director of Education. In this role, Jacobson will spearhead the Museum’s continued efforts to provide a wide array of family-friendly arts-education opportunities for the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area and audiences throughout the Southwest. She assumes the role after serving as interim Director of Education and Engagement since March 2024. Jacobson’s appointment is effective immediately.

“We are thrilled to share that Jessica Jacobson has been named the Museum’s Director of Education,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “With a deep passion for arts advocacy and engaging audiences of all ages through accessible, dynamic programming, Jessica brings more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit and corporate arts sector, along with a background in secondary-school arts education. Under her steady leadership, the Museum’s education team will focus on advancing the institution’s strategic plan to foster growth, develop family audiences, and strengthen our connection to the Greater Phoenix community and beyond.” 

As the Director of Education, Jacobson will lead the Museum’s educational efforts, including the development and management of family and school programs, volunteer and intern programs, library and archive services, and the creation of a new family activity center. She will also oversee and work alongside the Museum’s Docents, more than 250 volunteer educators who play an integral role in providing arts education to the community through on-site tours and off-site art presentations for youth and older-adult audiences.

“I am very excited to serve as the Museum’s Director of Education,” said Jacobson. “My goal is to deepen the Museum’s work in early childhood education, family programs, and K-12 initiatives. We want our neighbors, families, artists, seniors, and professionals to view the Museum as a place of respite and creativity, of self-discovery and play, of learning more about one another and more about themselves. Through meaningful, shared experiences and creative exploration, our vision is to reflect and support the diverse audiences we serve and foster the next generation of artists, arts advocates, and culturally engaged communities.”

Jacobson previously served as the Museum’s Assistant Director of Education, responsible for supervising and supporting the Museum’s Docents, managing the K-12 school tours program, and spearheading engagement opportunities and activities for Arizona educators. Before beginning her tenure at Phoenix Art Museum in 2021, Jacobson worked in arts education and administration at museums and cultural spaces such as the Denver Art Museum, Art Institute of Tucson, and Christos Collective. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Visual Culture Education from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Cultural Management from Colorado State University.

For more information, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org or 602.257.2105.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum appoints new head of education programs appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (April 21, 2025) – Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) announces that Betsy Fahlman, PhD, will retire on June 30, 2025, following nine years of service as the institution’s Adjunct Curator of American Art, a joint appointment between Phoenix Art Museum and the School of Art in Arizona State University’s (ASU) Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Fahlman was the inaugural appointee to the role, which was established in 2016 to deepen collaboration between Phoenix Art Museum, the leading art museum in the southwestern United States, and The School of Art at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at ASU, one of the largest comprehensive art programs at a public research university in the U.S. Since joining the Museum, Fahlman has split her time teaching at ASU and organizing numerous exhibitions at PhxArt, where she has also expanded the Museum’s holdings in American and Western American art. Following her retirement, Fahlman will remain an advisor on the Museum’s American and Western American art collection and exhibition programs. PhxArt will announce a new Adjunct Curator of American Art in Fall 2025.

“On behalf of our staff, our volunteers, and our community, we extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Fahlman for her service and commitment to Phoenix Art Museum and our larger Valley arts community,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Dr. Fahlman has made an indelible impact not only on the Museum’s American Art exhibition, publications, and collection programs, but also on the lives of countless students, administrators, and arts advocates and supporters with whom she has worked during her time at Arizona State University. We wish her well in retirement and look forward to working with her as a trusted advisor into the future.”

A scholar of the art history of Arizona and the American Southwest, with particular interest in public art, American modernism, the New Deal era, and industrial archaeology, Fahlman has served as an educator and administrator at the School of Art at Arizona State University for 35 years. At PhxArt, Fahlman oversaw the American art department’s permanent collection installations and special exhibitions, acquisitions and donations, and scholarly research, developing numerous exhibitions and collection installations that illuminated the relationship between industry and art, explored the influence and legacy of American modernism, and examined the representation of gender in American art. Highlights include The Collection: American Modern (2024); William Herbert “Buck” Dunton: A Mainer Goes West (2023), organized by PhxArt in partnership with the Hardwood Museum of Art; The Muses of New Mexico (2023); Landscapes of Extraction: The Art of Mining in the American West (2021); Philip C. Curtis and the Landscapes of Arizona (2021); and Transcendent Transcendentalists (2019), among others. Fahlman also served on the curatorial team that led the 2021 reinstallation of the Museum’s Art of the Americas galleries, which placed works from the American, Western American, and Latin American art collections in dialogue to demonstrate how artists across North, Central, and South America reacted against abstract styles in favor of representational modes.

In addition to these projects, Fahlman oversaw and contributed to various scholarly publications, including William Herbert “Buck” Dunton: A Mainer Goes West (2023), Landscapes of Extraction: The Art of Mining in the American West (2021); and Western Art Associates: Celebrating 50 Years (2018). She also helped the Museum acquire notable works such as The Chasm of Bingham by Erika Osborne; select drawings by Frederic Remington; A Fool and His Money are Easily…. by Philip C. Curtis; Taos Night Scene by Oscar Edward Berninghaus; Ranchos de Taos Church by Emil Bisttram; The Rebel (Elizabeth Ruskin) by Lew Davis; and Deer in the Forest by Marguerite Zorach.

“Dr. Fahlman has made a profound impact on the Museum’s legacy, including its ability to bring historical and contemporary American artworks to wider audiences,” said Donald Opatrny, chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Fahlman for her service in stewarding the Museum’s American art collection and exhibition program.”

Fahlman will continue supporting PhxArt as a consultant for the Museum’s American and Western American art program, working on such special projects as the development, refinement, and publication of a forthcoming collection catalogue, as well as the reinstallation of the Museum’s Art of the Americas galleries in Fall 2025. An ASU faculty event honoring Fahlman and other retirees will be hosted at PhxArt on May 2.

PhxArt will begin a search for its next Adjunct Curator of American Art this summer. The new appointee will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Museum’s American and Western American art collections, including organizing original exhibitions, conducting scholarly research, contributing to publications, designing compelling installations that advance contemporary approaches to the study of American and Western art, and more. The recruitment posting will be available at www.phxart.org/aboutus/careers.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum announces retirement of American Art Curator appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (August 10, 2023) – Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) announces that Janet Baker, PhD, has been named Curator Emerita of Asian Art in honor of her distinguished service during her more than two decades as the Museum’s curator of Asian art. Baker, who is retiring on August 31, joined the Museum in 2000 and over her 23-year tenure guided the expansion of the Museum’s holdings in Chinese, Japanese, Sri Lankan, Indian, and contemporary Asian art, more than doubling the collection by adding 3,000+ objects. She also organized wide-ranging exhibitions that explored art forms from across the Asian continent spanning from antiquity to the present. Recently, Baker stewarded a major acquisition of more than 50 Indonesian textiles, the first works from Indonesia acquired into the Museum’s Asian art collection. As Curator Emerita, Baker will remain an advisor on the Museum’s art of Asia collection and exhibition program. PhxArt will launch a national search for its next curator of Asian art.

“On behalf of our staff, volunteers, and, most importantly, our community, we extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Baker for her outstanding service and commitment to leading Phoenix Art Museum’s Asian art department and elevating its collection,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Dr. Baker has made an indelible impact on this institution by curating thought-provoking exhibitions, writing scholarly catalogues, and nurturing donor and community relationships that have contributed to the legacy of Phoenix Art Museum in meaningful ways. We wish her well in her retirement and look forward to working with her as a trusted advisor and Curator Emerita going forward.”

Baker has more than 40 years of experience in the field of Asian art. As the Museum’s curator of Asian art, she oversaw the department’s permanent collection presentations and special exhibitions, acquisitions and donations, and scholarly research. In her role, Baker developed numerous significant exhibitions that examined historical and contemporary art forms from China, Japan, Korea, India, Tibet, and Sri Lanka, among other Asian countries. Highlights include Sacred Word and Image: Five World Religions (2012), Hidden Memories of Love and Death in Chinese Painting: Selections from the Marilyn and Roy Papp Collection (2013), and Quiet Rage, Gentle Wail: Prints and Mask of Japanese Noh (2014). She also served as organizing curator for major exhibitions of Asian art that traveled to Phoenix Art Museum from partner institutions, including Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection (2017), one of the Museum’s most attended exhibitions in the past decade, and Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads: Gold (2015). Baker additionally oversaw and contributed to a number of publications, including Legacy of Kings: Art of Sri Lanka (2021), Sikh Formations (2019), and Tea and Immortality: Contemporary Chinese Yixing Teapots from the James T. Bialac Collection (2010).

In addition to advancing scholarly research and directing the Museum’s Asian art exhibition program, Baker played a vital role in ensuring the ongoing vibrancy of the Asian art department at PhxArt by fostering and expanding important donor relationships. In 2007, the Museum received significant support to name the John and Mary Coleman and Griffith and Patricia Way Gallery in the Art of Asia wing, and in 2017, Baker stewarded the gift that led to the establishment of the Museum’s Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage Gallery, only the second gallery in the United States dedicated to rotating exhibitions of Sikh art. In 2018, PhxArt accepted a major gift from the Papp Family Foundation in honor of Marilyn and L. Roy Papp, who were Museum donors, volunteers, and supporters for many decades. The gift of 22 important works of Chinese painting from the prestigious Papp collection was one of the largest and most significant donations to the Museum’s Asian art collection in the institution’s 60+ year history. Funding additionally enabled the naming of the Marilyn and L. Roy Papp Family Gallery. Gifts from the Papp Family collection will be on view in the Museum’s Art of Asia wing this September.

“Dr. Baker’s outstanding service in stewarding the Asian art collection has made a profound impact on Phoenix Art Museum and its ability to bring historical and contemporary Asian artworks to wider audiences,” said Donald Opatrny, chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the entire Board, I extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Baker for her dedication and efforts to bring diverse perspectives and forms of artistic expression to our galleries.”

Following her retirement from PhxArt, Baker will remain an honorary Professor of Art History at Arizona State University, where she serves on the MA thesis and PhD dissertation committees. To honor Baker’s service, the Museum will host a special event this fall.

The Museum will launch a national search for the institution’s next curator of Asian art. The new curator will be responsible for maintaining and growing the Museum’s Asian art collection, developing original scholarship, and spearheading interpretation and programmatic efforts to broaden engagement. The recruitment posting will be available at www.phxart.org/aboutus/careers.

The newly installed Asian art galleries showcasing the Museum’s collections will open at Phoenix Art Museum on September 9, 2023, in conjunction with the unveiling of the restored immersive installation You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies by Yayoi Kusama. Information will be available soon on phxart.org. For questions and more information, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org. 

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 350,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 19,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum announces retirement of Asian art curator, plans for national search appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

(June 8, 2023) – Phoenix Art Museum has appointed Olga Viso as the Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, effective immediately. Viso, a seasoned arts leader, curator, and scholar, has been working with the Museum for the past year as a part-time curator-at-large and a senior curatorial advisor. In taking on the chief curator role, Viso will join a newly created executive leadership team, which also includes the promotion of Allan Alvarado to chief financial and operating officer and Nikki deLeon Martin to chief advancement officer. Together, the team of Viso, Alvarado, and deLeon Martin will oversee all of the Museum’s departments and work closely with Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, and the Board of Trustees, to set and implement the institutional vision.

“We are thrilled to have Olga join us in a more permanent capacity and build on the incredible work she has already been doing for the Museum and in the community,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak. “She has already proven to be an invaluable thought-partner for me and the team, and her unparalleled experience as an arts leader and curator makes her an exceptional choice to lead our curatorial team and help shape our education and engagement programs. In creating this new executive team, Olga, Alan, and Nikki will harness their individual leadership strengths to work alongside me to amplify the Museum’s role as a cultural anchor in our community and for the Southwest.”

Since joining the Museum in 2022, Viso has organized and curated exhibitions such as Juan Francisco Elso: Por América (on view through September 17, 2023), overseen new artist commissions, and advised on overall acquisitions and curatorial strategies. Bringing more than 30 years of experience working in museums both as an arts administrator and a curator of contemporary art with a focus on Latin American art, she will oversee the Museum’s curatorial division, as well as modern and contemporary art exhibitions and acquisitions. As part of this appointment, the Museum’s education and engagement departments will now also report to Viso. 

“I am excited to take on this new role at Phoenix Art Museum to expand upon my curatorial work and continue to engage with and present leading artists practicing today,” said Olga Viso. “Since arriving in Phoenix I have witnessed the integral role that this Museum plays in our community as a convener and cultural destination. I look forward to helping shape the Museum’s curatorial, education, and engagement programs and collaborating with Nikki, Allan, and Jeremy to ensure the institution’s long-term success and sustainability.”

DeLeon Martin, currently the Museum’s deputy director since April 2022, has been with the museum for more than a decade overseeing communications, marketing, public relations, membership, security, visitor services, human resources, and retail services. Previously, she oversaw education and engagement, as well as annual giving and affiliate groups. As deputy director and chief advancement officer, she will be responsible for all fundraising, membership, visitor services, human resources, and external affairs. Alvarado joined the Museum as chief financial officer in July 2022. As chief financial and operating officer, he will oversee all museum operations, including facilities and maintenance, security, retail services, event rentals, and information technology. DeLeon Martin and Alvarado assume their new roles on June 26, 2023.

“Olga is deeply respected not only in the national and international art world but also in the Phoenix community, where her deep passion for the arts and commitment to mentorship make her the perfect fit for this role,” said Donald Opatrny, chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “We have been fortunate to benefit from Olga’s expertise over the past year, and we are delighted that she is now a permanent member of our executive leadership team. Olga, Allan, and Nikki’s deep experience and dedication to advancing the Museum’s mission as a community and cultural resource will ensure our new management team, working in concert with Jeremy, will lead our museum into a dynamic future.”

Before coming to Phoenix, Viso served as director of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis for a decade, and prior to that spent 12 years as director and curator at the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC. She has curated numerous landmark solo and group exhibitions, including monographic surveys of artists such as Jim Hodges, Guillermo Kuitca, Ana Mendieta, and Juan Muñoz. In addition to her fulltime role with PhxArt, Viso will continue as a senior advisor at ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, where she develops academic partnerships for the university with art museums (including PhxArt) and supports the ASU-LACMA master’s fellowship program in art history, a collaboration between the university and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that invests in the advancement of museum professionals of color already working in museums.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

###

For more information, please contact:

Sarah McNaughton / Mia Litwak

Resnicow and Associates

smcnaughton@resnicow.com / elitwak@resnicow.com

212-671-5161 / 212-671-5168

The post Olga Viso Appointed Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairsat Phoenix Art Museum appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (May 31, 2023) – Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) and the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography (CCP) announce Emilia Mickevicius, PhD, as the newly appointed Norton Family Assistant Curator of Photography. Mickevicius will divide her time between the two institutions, working with CCP’s world-renowned collections to curate exhibitions that will be presented in Phoenix Art Museum’s Doris and John Norton Gallery for the Center for Creative Photography. She comes to PhxArt and CCP from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), where she has served as curatorial assistant in the photography department since 2019. Mickevicius begins her role on June 5, 2023.

“We are thrilled to welcome Emilia Mickevicius to Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “The Norton Family Assistant Curator of Photography position is integral to our valued and longstanding partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, and with her significant experience in researching and organizing exhibitions for institutions such as SFMOMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and RISD Museum, Mickevicius will bring invaluable expertise to the Museum’s photography exhibitions.”

“Dr. Mickevicius has a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of photography and is invested in making the Center’s collection and the resulting exhibitions engaging, educational, and welcoming to everyone who comes to Phoenix Art Museum,” said Rebecca A. Senf, PhD, chief curator at the Center for Creative Photography. “Her authentic passion and contagious enthusiasm for photographs is a delight to experience.”

 As Norton Family Assistant Curator of Photography, Mickevicius will work with CCP’s renowned photography collection to curate exhibitions for Phoenix Art Museum as part of an ongoing partnership between the two Arizona institutions, which began in 2006. The mission of the innovative collaboration, made possible thanks to the generosity of Mr. And Mrs. John R. Norton, is to bring vibrant photography exhibitions, featuring works from the Center’s unparalleled collections, to new and larger audiences. Founded in 1975 by renowned photographer Ansel Adams and Dr. John Schaefer, then-president of the University of Arizona, CCP is the premier research collection of American photographic fine art and archives. Over the past two decades, PhxArt and CCP have presented nearly 40 exhibitions that have fostered deeper engagement and understanding of some of the most important photographic works of the 20th century among local, regional, and national audiences.

“I am delighted to bring my passion and expertise in the field of photography to this role of Norton Family Assistant Curator of Photography, and I look forward to building upon the history of collaboration and partnership between Phoenix Art Museum and the Center for Creative Photography,” said Mickevicius. “I am excited to work with the Center’s celebrated collection, develop new research and scholarship about its significant holdings, and create dynamic programming that engages, educates, and inspires Museum visitors year-round.”

Emilia Mickevicius is an art historian and curator who specializes in 20th century and contemporary U.S. photography. In her role as curatorial assistant in SFMOMA’s photography department, she organized and contributed to exhibitions such as Inside Out: Selections from the Sack Photographic Trust (2023); Sightlines: Photographs from the Collection (2022); A Living for Us All: Artists and the WPA (2022); and Kinship: Photography and Connection (2023), as well as the forthcoming presentation, Sea Change: Photographs from the Collection (2023). Prior to joining SFMOMA, Mickevicius held positions in curatorial departments at the Art Institute of Chicago and RISD Museum. In 2019, she received her doctoral degree in the History of Art and Architecture from Brown University, where her dissertation focused on the 1975 George Eastman Museum landscape photography exhibition, New Topographics. Her research has been supported by the Henry Luce Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Center for Creative Photography, and the Getty Research Institute. She received her undergraduate degree in art history from the University of Chicago.

The next photography exhibition organized by Phoenix Art Museum and the Center for Creative Photography will premiere in the Museum’s Doris and John Norton Gallery for the Center for Creative Photography in December 2023. More information will be available soon at phxart.org and ccp.arizona.edu.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

About the Center for Creative Photography

The Center for Creative Photography, at the University of Arizona is the premier research collection of American photographic fine art and archives. The Center opened in 1975, following a meeting between University President John Schaefer and Ansel Adams. Beginning with the archives of five living master photographers—Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, and Frederick Sommer—the collection has grown to include 270 archival collections. Among these are some of the most recognizable names in 20th-century North American photography, including W. Eugene Smith, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Edward Weston, and Garry Winogrand. Altogether there are more than eight million archival objects in the Center’s collection, including negatives, work prints, contact sheets, albums, scrapbooks, correspondence, writings, audiovisual materials, and memorabilia. To learn more about the Center for Creative Photography, visit ccp.arizona.edu, or call 520.621.7968.

The post Phoenix Art Museum and the Center for Creative Photography appoint new photography curator appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (May 12, 2023) –Phoenix Art Museum announces the addition of three new Trustees comprising its governing board. Chaired by Donald C. Opatrny, Jr., a private investor and philanthropist, the Museum’s Board of Trustees serves as fiduciaries of the largest visual-arts organization in the American Southwest. The new Trustees bring a range of professional and philanthropic experiences and will continue to empower the Museum, under the leadership of Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, to anticipate and meet the needs of its ever-evolving and diverse local, regional, and national communities. The new Trustees include Joel Coen, John Horseman, and Jordan Rose, each of whom will serve a three-year term renewable up to three terms.

“We are truly excited to welcome this new class of Trustees to the Board of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Mikolajczak. “These individuals will provide invaluable leadership experience and business expertise as we move deeper into the strategic planning process and continue to explore new avenues of financial sustainability, community engagement, collection stewardship, and exhibition strategy. We are grateful to Joel, John, and Jordan for volunteering their time, personal resources, and knowledge in support of Phoenix Art Museum and the arts in our community.”

Joel Coen is an award-winning business leader and entrepreneur who has founded several successful businesses throughout the country. After holding a number of leadership roles and C-suite positions throughout his career, he now serves as managing partner and founder of TruNorth Advisors, a business offering clients data-driven, growth-focused, strategic insights and direction to propel their organizations forward. Coen also has been honored to serve as the President of the Men’s Arts Council (MAC). During his tenure, he led the heritage nonprofit organization in its ongoing efforts to make significant financial contributions to the Phoenix Art Museum’s operating budget, two separate endowments, and various exhibitions. This included a $1 million+ pledge made on behalf of the organization in 2022. In 2015, Coen was recognized as Business Owner of the Year in Gilbert. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Regis University.

John Horseman is a private investor and passionate art collector. He currently serves as Chairman of the Collections Committee and Vice President of the Board of Commissioners at the St. Louis Art Museum, for which he also co-authored the institution’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report. He and his wife, Susan, are supporters and contributors to various New-York based organizations, including the Mother of Good Counsel Home, an organization that serves women and children at risk. They are also supporters of St. Louis-based organizations such as the New Life Evangelistic Center, which serves the unsheltered community, and Living Water Ministries, which digs wells for fresh water in Zimbabwe. Horseman and his wife are very active with their six children and eight grandchildren.  

Jordan Rose is the founder and principal of Rose Law Group pc, the largest woman-owned law firm in Arizona history, the first full-service law firm on the metaverse for metaverse-based businesses, and the first law firm in the world to employ blockchain developers, coders, and 3D architects to work with lawyers to take a Web3 project from legal due diligence through to design and construction. Rose Law Group pc provides services ranging from water law, AI law, M&A, immigration, trusts and estates, and family law to employment, business litigation, Crypto, Web3, smart contracts, blockchain, DAOs, NFT protection, renewable energy, cannabis, space law, business and real estate transactions, renewable energy, zoning/land use, and lobbying. Rose serves on the boards of YPO Arizona Gold, the Phoenix Country Day School, and the Barrow’s Neurological Foundation, among others. She is also president of the Pinal Partnership Board, a member of CEO and International Woman’s Forum, and a mentor for the Urban Land Institute Young Leadership program.

The Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum has served as the governing body of the Museum since its founding in 1959. All Trustees are nominated by the Board’s nominating and governance committee and are elected by the general Board. Each Museum Trustee serves a minimum of one three-year term, with the opportunity to renew up to three terms. The Museum’s Board of Trustees now numbers 42 total Trustees, including five Honorary Trustees and one ex-officio member. For more information about the Museum’s Board of Trustees or to schedule interviews with incoming Trustees or other Museum representatives, contact the press office at Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org or samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org. For a copy of this news release translated into Spanish, contact press@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum announces newest class of appointments to its Board of Trustees appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (February 28, 2023) – Phoenix Art Museum announces the addition of Bettina Nava to its governing Board of Trustees. Chaired by Donald C. Opatrny, Jr., a private investor and philanthropist, the Museum’s Board serves as fiduciaries of the largest visual-arts organization in the American Southwest, led by Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. Nava brings a range of experiences in strategic communications and planning, community relations, public relations, and marketing. She will serve a three-year term renewable up to three terms.

“We are excited to welcome Bettina Nava to the Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “As the Museum seeks to continue building bridges and authentic relationships across diverse sectors of the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, Nava’s extensive expertise in coalition-building and political and community organizing will be vital to those efforts. We are truly grateful to her for supporting Phoenix Art Museum and our mission of providing meaningful and dynamic visual art exhibitions and programming to our community and region.”

Bettina Nava is a co-founder and owner of OH Strategic Communications (OHSC), working with blue-chip and emerging clients to achieve their goals in diverse markets. Prior to co-founding OHSC, Nava was a partner at FirstStrategic Communications and Public Affairs, leading the firm’s community and business relations, strategic relationships, and marketing efforts. She also worked in various capacities for the office and presidential campaign of Arizona Senator John McCain. As the Southwest campaign manager for the McCain 2008 presidential team, she was in charge of hiring, managing, and implementation of campaign tactics, strategies, and communications, and prior to that, she was director of fundraising for the McCain 2008 Presidential Committee in Arizona. During McCain’s tenure as Arizona Senator, Nava served as state director, leading three state offices and driving community outreach efforts. Nava also previously worked for Governor Fife Symington as director of community relations and boards and commissions.

In addition to her volunteer service on the PhxArt Board of Trustees, Nava serves as Board chair for the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association Government Relations Committee and as a Board member on the Multi-Cultural Board of ONE Community. Previously, she has served on the boards of the Valley of the Sun United Way, Child’s Play AZ, MISS Foundation, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Southwest Human Development. She also has received numerous awards, including the community service award from Valle Del Sol in 2014. Nava and her family reside in Phoenix. She earned degrees in journalism and religion from the University of Arizona.

“I am sincerely honored and humbled to be joining the Phoenix Art Museum Board of Trustees,” said Nava. “The Board’s desire to continue to be inclusive and representative is clearly a priority, and I am proud to be part of their efforts to serve the community we love.”

The Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum has served as the governing body of the Museum since its founding in 1959. All Trustees are nominated by the Board’s nominating and governance committee and are elected by the general Board. Each Museum Trustee serves a minimum of one three-year term, with the opportunity to renew up to three terms. The Museum’s Board of Trustees now numbers 40 total Trustees, including five Honorary Trustees and one ex-officio member. For more information about the Museum’s Board of Trustees or to schedule interviews with incoming Trustees or other Museum representatives, contact the press office at Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org or samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org. For a copy of this news release translated into Spanish, contact press@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

The post Phoenix Art Museum announces appointment of Bettina Nava to Board of Trustees appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.