Dallas, August 21, 2025
News Summary
The Dallas Museum of Art has appointed Brian Ferriso as its new director, effective December 1. Ferriso, previously the director of the Portland Art Museum, will lead the DMA during a pivotal time of campus expansion and efforts to bolster community engagement. His past achievements include significant growth in endowment and staff expansion, which align with the museum’s objectives for increased accessibility and connection in the Dallas cultural scene.
Dallas — The Dallas Museum of Art has appointed Brian Ferriso as its new director, with his first day scheduled for December 1, 2023. Ferriso succeeds Agustín Arteaga, who left the museum last year to become director of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. The appointment comes as the DMA prepares for a major campus expansion and works to strengthen community connections and accessibility.
Top facts and immediate implications
Ferriso arrives from the Portland Art Museum (PAM), where he served as director since 2006. His record at PAM includes a substantial increase in financial stability, expansion of curatorial capacity, and new access initiatives aimed at younger visitors and school groups. The DMA’s leadership change occurs while the institution is planning a roughly $150 million campus expansion led by the Spanish firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos and managing the fallout from recent operational cutbacks.
Key achievements at the Portland Art Museum
- Endowment growth: Oversaw an increase in PAM’s endowment by about $40 million.
- Debt reduction: Eliminated roughly $7 million in unfunded debt during his tenure.
- Curatorial staffing: Doubled the curatorial staff, with approximately half of the new positions endowed in perpetuity.
- Access initiatives: Implemented free admission programs for visitors aged 17 and under and for school tours.
- Collection diversification: Directed a stronger emphasis on works by Indigenous, Black, and women artists.
- Major projects: PAM was a co-commissioning institution for a U.S. presentation at the 2024 Venice Biennale and is opening a large campus expansion in November that adds nearly 100,000 square feet at a cost exceeding $140 million.
Why the DMA named Ferriso
The DMA’s selection reflects interest in a candidate with experience in financial stewardship, collection development, institutional expansion, and community engagement. Ferriso’s stated approach favors people-centered programming and accessibility, factors the DMA leadership considered important as the museum plans its next phase of growth and outreach.
Planned DMA expansion and collections
The DMA is in early stages of a multi-million-dollar expansion estimated at $150 million. The project will be led by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. The museum’s last major renovation took place in 1984, and detailed plans and timelines for the current campaign have not been finalized publicly. The institution has also received a notable promised gift from prominent Dallas collectors intended to enhance the museum’s holdings in modern and contemporary art, a development that could shape exhibition priorities under the new director.
Operational context and challenges
In recent years the DMA reduced staff and shortened open hours in response to attendance declines and budgetary pressures. These operational changes remain part of the context Ferriso will inherit, along with expectations to rebuild community trust, strengthen staff relationships, and expand access to programs and exhibitions.
Immediate priorities and approach
Ferriso plans to prioritize relationship-building with DMA staff, board members, and the Dallas community. His management track record suggests focus areas will include financial health, curatorial growth, and programs that increase accessibility for young people and underserved audiences. The museum’s board has pointed to community connectivity, the site’s architecture, and institutional relevance as motivating factors in the search for new leadership.
What this means for visitors and the city
The change in leadership signals a period of transition that could affect exhibition schedules, education programs, and access initiatives. The planned campus expansion and the incoming promised collection gift aim to raise the DMA’s profile in modern and contemporary art, while operational recovery efforts are expected to center on restoring stable hours and staffing levels as resources allow.
Background: museum leadership and local cultural scene
The DMA’s leadership change follows a pattern among U.S. museums seeking directors who can manage capital projects, grow endowments, and expand audience access. Ferriso’s long tenure at PAM and experience with a large expansion project position him to oversee similar initiatives at the DMA, while also navigating the particular needs of Dallas’s cultural landscape.
FAQ
- Who is the new director of the Dallas Museum of Art?
- Brian Ferriso, previously director of the Portland Art Museum since 2006, will start at the DMA on December 1, 2023.
- Whom does Ferriso replace?
- He succeeds Agustín Arteaga, who left the DMA last year to lead the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.
- What are Ferriso’s main accomplishments at the Portland Art Museum?
- At PAM he increased the endowment by $40 million, eliminated $7 million in unfunded debt, doubled curatorial staff with many endowed positions, expanded access programs for youth and schools, and shifted collection priorities toward Indigenous, Black, and women artists.
- When will Ferriso begin his role at the DMA?
- His official start date is December 1, 2023.
- What are the DMA’s expansion plans?
- The DMA plans a campus expansion estimated at $150 million, with design by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. Specific timelines and details have not been publicly released.
- How will Ferriso approach the DMA’s challenges?
- His stated priorities include building relationships with staff and the community, improving accessibility and programming, and aligning curatorial work with broader institutional and community goals.
- What operational issues is the DMA facing?
- The museum has experienced attendance declines that led to staff reductions and reduced hours; addressing these issues will be part of the new director’s mandate.
| Feature | Value / Note |
|---|---|
| New Director | Brian Ferriso |
| Start Date | December 1, 2023 |
| Previous Role | Director, Portland Art Museum (since 2006) |
| Endowment growth (PAM) | Approximately $40 million |
| Unfunded debt eliminated (PAM) | About $7 million |
| Curatorial staff change (PAM) | Doubled; half of new posts endowed |
| PAM expansion | Nearly 100,000 sq ft; > $140 million |
| DMA planned expansion | Estimated $150 million; Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos lead |
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