Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), starting September 22. The announcement comes shortly after Sajet was ousted as director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery for supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. During her 12-year tenure there, she doubled attendance, raised over $85 million, and oversaw major capital improvements. Sajet previously held leadership roles at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The appointment matters because it brings an experienced and high-profile museum leader to MAM at a pivotal moment, following a controversial departure from the Smithsonian. Sajet’s track record of boosting attendance, fundraising, and introducing contemporary perspectives suggests she could significantly elevate the museum’s national and international profile. Her focus on living artists and educational programming aligns with MAM’s history of experimentation, potentially reshaping its future direction.