The Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeremy M. Mikolajczak as CEO after an extensive national search.
Mikolajczak will lead the 91-year-old Museum, which comprises four acres of modern and historic exhibition spaces. The Museum boasts a permanent collection containing more than 9,000 objects, and focuses on exhibitions of modern, contemporary, Latin American, Asian, and art of the American West.
“We are excited to welcome Jeremy. He has an impressive record of success in museum administration and has a strong interest in showcasing the Museum’s collection. His reputation for balancing the community’s interests with showing established and emerging artists will build upon TMA’s artistic vision. He has led successful exhibition collaborations and is a champion of art education programming,” said Michael Hanson, president of the TMA Board of Trustees.
As executive director and chief curator of Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art + Design for the past four years, Mikolajczak oversaw the college’s network of six campus galleries and international sculpture park, and led the transformation of the institution, founding the Museum of Art + Design, located within the Freedom Tower (listed in the National Register of Historic Places) in downtown Miami.
He engaged a broad range of audiences, drawing 75,000 visitors annually through exhibitions and programs that include art, design, and local history and culture. During his tenure, he raised the profile of the college’s visual arts programs to local, national, and international exposure.
Mikolajczak’s appointment follows the retirement of Dr. Robert Knight. Dr. Knight was Director and CEO of TMA for ten years.
“Building upon the great work of Dr. Robert Knight, the dedicated board, and outstanding staff, I am honored to serve as the next CEO of the Tucson Museum of Art. The museum has a rich 91-year history and has established itself as an institutional leader for the region. I look forward to advancing TMA into a groundbreaking 21st century museum by embracing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural programs that engage in meaningful collaborations and partnerships. I am excited to join the enthusiasm and energy of a thriving Tucson and look forward to being a part of this dynamic community,” Mikolacjzak said.
Prior to heading Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art + Design, Mikolajczak was Director and Chief Curator at the University of Central Missouri Gallery of Art & Design in Warrensburg, MO, and Kansas City, MO.
He has published more than a dozen articles and organized over thirty exhibitions including a major exhibition of paintings by famed Chinese choreographer Shen Wei; a collaborative retrospective by Cuban-born fashion couple Isabel and Ruben Toledo; and a 50-year retrospective of American painter Arnold Mesches.
Mikolajczak holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, is an active educator in arts administration and museum practices and served as the Associate Director of a gallery in Chicago, IL, specializing in design.
He is a member of the Association of Academic Museum and Galleries and the American Alliance of Museums. Mikolajczak has been involved with many organizations, including the CINTAS Foundation Knight Arts Fellowship Jury, Miami, FL; the Global Fine Arts Awards Advisory Board, Miami, FL, and London, England; Charlotte Street Foundation, Kansas City, MO; and has served as a grant panelist for the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the Missouri Arts Council.
“We are very fortunate that our CEO search brought us to Jeremy Mikolajczak. In the interview process, Jeremy established an excellent rapport with the Museum’s staff, trustees, and support organizations. He will be a great fit for the Museum – he brings a passion for art, strong leadership skills, a commitment to community relevance and partnerships, and an energetic vision for our future. The Board of Trustees is confident that Jeremy will be a worthy successor to Robert Knight and can move the Museum forward to new levels of excellence,” said Michael S. Bylsma, Vice President of the TMA Board of Trustees.
