Kim Sajet will serve as director of the Milwaukee Museum of Art (MAM) on Sept. 22, the agency announced Wednesday.
“This moment marks a unique opportunity to introduce a leader who can open the full potential of the museum and promote a vision to connect people with art and to each other, creating experiences that inspire, inspire people’s curiosity and bring joy while sharing the museum’s stories on the national and international stages,” said the chairman of the board of directors of the Milwaukee Museum of Art, who allegedly said.
Shortly after the news, Sajet was removed from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery to support the diversity, equity and inclusion program (DEI) within the museum.
During her twelve-year tenure, Saget introduced contemporary perspectives, attending museums with innovative exhibitions and public programs. Sajet also raised over $85 million for the gallery’s business and donations, facilitating significant capital improvements, including the reinstallation of the U.S. Presidential Gallery.
Prior to that, she served as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, vice president and deputy director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and director of corporate relations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Sajet is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Association of Art Museums Directors (AAMD), and she has served on the board from 2021-25.
Sajet, formerly host of the Portrait podcast, was nominated for the Webber Award in 2025 and is currently writing a book about the early photography and the Civil War era, written by American social reformer Emily Howland.
“I was impressed by my passion for museums and how they view it as a core part of what makes Milwaukee a world-class city. The general atmosphere is entrepreneurs, culturally dynamic and refreshingly authentic. This sense of experimentation is also an important part of the museum’s collection and exhibition history,” Sajet’s statement. “I am passionate about expanding my commitment to current artists and exploring educational opportunities that flow from past art and design. ”
