Anderson to lead PAM’s next chapter following landmark Campus Transformation in 2025.
The Portland Art Museum (PAM) today announced the appointment of Michael J. Anderson as its next Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Director. Anderson joins PAM following the completion of its transformational campus expansion in 2025, which has reimagined the Museum as a more accessible and dynamic cultural destination through expanded galleries, new public gathering spaces, and a reinstallation of its permanent collection. Currently serving as President and CEO of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA), a position he had held since 2019, Anderson will assume the role on October 12, 2026.
As one of the oldest art museums in the United States, the Portland Art Museum is an essential cultural lifeline for the region. Since the opening of the expanded campus last fall, the Museum has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to experience its reinstalled galleries while increasing attendance by 35 percent and doubling demand for school visits, underscoring its growing role as a center for learning and public engagement. Working alongside the Museum’s Board and staff, Anderson will further this commitment while advancing PAM’s mission to connect audiences with art from Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and around the world.
Anderson arrives in Portland following more than a decade of leadership at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, where he established himself as a curator, educator, and museum executive committed to expanding access to art. Originally trained as a teacher before entering museum leadership, he has long championed education and public engagement as central to an art museum’s mission.
During his tenure, Anderson guided OKCMOA through a period of sustained institutional growth, strengthening its financial foundation and increasing philanthropic support; expanding the permanent collection by more than 30 percent through major acquisitions and gifts; and broadening access through initiatives such as introducing bilingual gallery interpretation throughout the museum to better serve Oklahoma City’s Spanish-speaking communities. He also forged lasting relationships with Tribal Nations and Native artists across Oklahoma through exhibitions, partnerships, and public programs.
“The transformation of our campus marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Portland Art Museum,” said Cyndy Maletis, Chair of the Portland Art Museum Board of Trustees. “Michael is the right leader for this moment. He brings the experience, vision, and collaborative spirit to guide the Museum through its next phase of growth. We were impressed not only by his accomplishments, but by his belief that great art museums should be welcoming, inspiring places for everyone. We are thrilled to welcome Michael to Portland.”
Anderson succeeds Brian Ferriso, whose nearly two decades of leadership culminated in the completion of the Museum’s landmark campus transformation. Under Anderson’s leadership, the Museum will continue expanding its reach through ambitious exhibitions, educational initiatives, and innovative programs that invite audiences to experience art in new ways.
“I am thrilled to join the Portland Art Museum at this extraordinary moment in its history,” said Michael Anderson. “The Museum has created an inspiring foundation for the future rooted in a deep commitment to artistic excellence, accessibility, and civic engagement. I look forward to working alongside the Museum’s talented staff, Board, artists, supporters, and partners to help shape its next chapter by creating new opportunities for audiences to experience exceptional art, engage with new ideas, and discover the diverse stories reflected in PAM’s collections and exhibitions.”
“We sought a Director who would build on the exciting possibilities created by the Museum’s transformation,” said Alix Meier Goodman, Search Committee Co-Chair. “Michael is a thoughtful, disciplined leader who can leverage the Museum’s existing strengths to expand its public impact and help animate every aspect of the program and campus. His commitment to learning, access, and partnership is matched by his ability to lead teams and build trust. We look forward to working with him as we advance the Museum’s regional leadership and national presence.”
During Anderson’s time at OKCMOA, he expanded the museum’s nationally recognized film program through the creation of the OKCMOA Film Society, curated or coordinated more than sixteen exhibitions and major collection installations—including Kiarostami: Beyond the Frame (2022), The Human Form in the Art of Europe and North America (2018), and The Complete WPA Collection: 75th Anniversary (2016)—and led a major reinterpretation of the museum’s permanent collection.
Anderson received a PhD in the History of Art and Film Studies from Yale University and an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University. He is an active member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and has authored numerous scholarly publications on art and film history.
