Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Michael J. Anderson has been appointed the next Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Director of the Portland Art Museum, taking charge at a major moment for the institution.
Anderson, currently president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, will begin his new role on October 12, 2026. His appointment follows the Portland museum's landmark campus transformation, positioning him to lead its next phase of growth, public engagement and artistic programming.
Anderson brings more than a decade of museum leadership experience, including his tenure as Oklahoma City's chief executive since 2019.
During that time, he helped expand the museum's permanent collection by more than 30%, increased philanthropic support and introduced bilingual gallery interpretation to broaden access for Spanish-speaking audiences.
His record of expanding cultural access and strengthening institutions was central to Portland's decision after a nine-month national search.
The appointment comes as the Portland Art Museum builds momentum following its major campus expansion, which reopened in 2025 with expanded galleries and new public spaces.
The museum says attendance has risen 35% since the transformation, while demand for school visits has doubled. Anderson now faces the opportunity to turn that momentum into sustained growth, deepen community engagement and establish the museum as an even stronger cultural destination in Portland and beyond.
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