Ann-Marie Russell is the new interim executive director of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, the museum announced.
“Anne-Marie’s experience as an entrepreneurial leader, her training in art history and anthropology, and her rigorous connoisseurship skills bring a unique perspective to the largest encyclopedic museum in Florida. We look forward to accomplishing great things together,” said Dimity Carlson, board of trustees chair.
Ms. Russell brings more than 25 years of expertise in cultural production leadership to the downtown St. Petersburg museum. “The MFA’s collection, exhibitions, and public programs represent the highest level of museum practice, and we are looking forward to continually expanding and inspiring audiences while embracing the freedom to reimagine how art museums can better serve our communities,” Ms. Russell said.
Ms. Russell was the inaugural executive director of the Sarasota Art Museum and previously the executive director and chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson. Most recently, she served as executive director for Architecture Sarasota. She received a BA in cultural anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MA in art history from the University of Arizona.
Ms. Russell succeeds Kristen A. Shepherd, who served as CEO and executive director of the MFA from December 2016 to August 2022, according to a news release from the museum.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
The MFA at 255 Beach Drive NE is the largest encyclopedic art museum in Florida. The collection includes works of art from ancient times to the present day and from around the world, including ancient Greek and Roman, Egyptian, Asian, African, pre-Columbian, Native American, European, American, and contemporary art. The photography collection is one of the largest and finest in the Southeast. For more information, visit mfastpete.org and follow @mfastpete on social media.