After nine years, Milwaukee Art Museum director Marcelle Polednik, is stepping down from her role effective July 31, the museum announced on Wednesday. She had served in the museum’s top position since 2016.
A global search committee for the next director will be led by the museum board’s vice president and chair elect, Andy Nunemaker, and the museum has hired Russell Reynolds Associates to lead a national search.
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“Leading the Milwaukee Art Museum has been an extraordinary honor, but I believe the time has come for new leadership to guide its next chapter,” Polednik said in the announcement. “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve built over the past nine years, and confident that the Museum is on a strong path forward—artistically, operationally and financially.”
As director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Polednik guided the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw the addition over 3,100 works of art to its permanent collection, and secured endowment gifts such as $5 million from Joe and Ellen Checota and an anonymous donation ensuring free admission for children age 12 and under.
Back in February, Polednik also came under fire from a Milwaukee County supervisor over her “bloated” salary. The museum responded in statement that she is not a county employee and her salary is not funded through county or taxpayers’ money.
“Marcelle has driven a number of noteworthy accomplishments over her tenure, including navigating the challenges of the global pandemic, focusing our strategic agenda, and helping to prepare us for the next decade of artistic growth and innovation for our landmark institution,” said MAM board chair Jeff Yabuki in a press release. “We are grateful to Marcelle for her leadership as we turn to building this next chapter of success.”
Before joining MAM, Polednik was the director and chief curator at MOCA Jacksonville. Previously, she was the chief curator at the Monterey Museum of Art and an assistant curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
