The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) has appointed Brian Ferriso, the longtime director of the Portland Art Museum (PAM), as its next director. Ferriso will oversee the inauguration of PAM's $111 million expansion on November 20 before starting his new role in Dallas on December 1. He succeeds Agustín Arteaga, who left the DMA last spring to lead the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Ferriso brings nearly two decades of experience at PAM, where he increased the endowment by $40 million, doubled curatorial staff, eliminated $7 million in debt, and led a $140 million fundraising campaign for the museum's expansion and endowment.
This appointment matters because Ferriso's proven track record in capital campaigns and institutional growth positions him to guide the DMA through its own $150 million campus overhaul, the first major renovation of its Edward Larrabee Barnes-designed building since 1984. The project, led by Madrid- and Berlin-based Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, will add a contemporary art gallery, improve visitor amenities, and enhance back-of-house facilities. Ferriso's experience with a similar expansion in Portland and his focus on community engagement align with the DMA's goal of becoming more inclusive and accessible as it enters a transformative new era.