Dallas, August 21, 2025
News Summary
Brian Ferriso has been appointed as the new director of the Dallas Museum of Art. He will lead the museum during a significant campus transformation that includes a $150 million expansion project. Ferriso previously served as the director of the Portland Art Museum and brings extensive experience in fundraising and organizational development, which will be crucial for the successful implementation of the transformation in Dallas.
Dallas
The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) has appointed Brian Ferriso as its new director, effective December 1. Ferriso will take charge as the museum begins a major campus transformation, and will oversee a planned $150 million expansion project currently in the schematic design phase.
Key appointment and immediate priorities
Ferriso joins the DMA after more than 17 years as director of the Portland Art Museum (PAM). His start date follows closely after the opening of a major expansion at PAM scheduled for November 20, leaving fewer than two weeks between that inauguration and his first day in Dallas. At the DMA he will lead the museum through the early implementation of its campus transformation, working with the Madrid- and Berlin-based firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, which has been hired to redesign and expand the museum complex.
Experience and track record
At the Portland Art Museum, Ferriso led fundraising and organizational efforts that included a campaign raising more than $140 million for expansion and endowment. Under his leadership the PAM endowment increased by $40 million, the curatorial staff doubled in size, and $7 million in unfunded debt was eliminated. Ferriso also initiated accessibility programs such as an Art Access Endowment to provide free admission to visitors aged 17 and under, and worked to diversify collection holdings to better represent Native American, Black, and other underrepresented artists.
DMA campus transformation details
The DMA’s planned expansion is the first significant renovation of its Edward Larrabee Barnes–designed building since it opened in 1984. The project aims to add contemporary exhibition space, restore symmetry to the original layout, increase transparency with new glazing for visual openness, and upgrade visitor amenities and back-of-house facilities. The expansion budget is set at $150 million, and is currently in schematic design, a phase when overall layout and spatial relationships are defined before detailed design and construction documents.
Context of the appointment
The museum’s board cited Ferriso’s record in capital campaigns and organizational growth as key qualifications for the role. Ferriso succeeds Agustín Arteaga, who departed the DMA in spring 2023 to lead another American museum. The DMA has faced operational challenges in recent years, including staff layoffs and reduced hours, as well as a 2022 security incident that resulted in damage to artwork. The new leadership appointment comes as the museum seeks to stabilize operations while executing an ambitious capital program.
Planned emphasis and community engagement
Ferriso has emphasized the role museums can play in civic and social life, and his direction at the DMA is expected to prioritize community engagement and accessibility. His prior initiatives in Portland included programs to increase free access for youth and outreach efforts aimed at diversifying museum audiences and collections. In Dallas, he will be tasked with identifying strategies to strengthen connections between the museum and the broader community while managing the expansion’s development.
Relevant projects and timeline intersections
The PAM expansion that Ferriso is exiting after inauguration will add approximately 95,000 square feet of new or renovated public and exhibition space. That project was designed by the Portland-based Hennebery Eddy Architects in collaboration with Chicago’s Vinci Hamp. Ferriso’s move to Dallas comes at a moment when both institutions are investing in physical growth and audience development.
Ferriso’s prior positions
- Director, Portland Art Museum (2006–2023+)
- Director, Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa (four years)
- Senior roles at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Smart Museum of Art
Challenges the DMA will address
- Operational adjustments including staffing levels and opening hours
- Security and conservation measures following the 2022 artwork damage incident
- Managing a major capital campaign and construction process while maintaining public programming
Next steps and public impact
With schematic design underway and an architectural team in place, the DMA will move into more detailed design stages while Ferriso begins his tenure. The museum’s ability to deliver expanded galleries, restored architectural balance, and improved amenities will depend on successful fundraising, design development, and community engagement efforts over the coming months and years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new director of the Dallas Museum of Art?
Brian Ferriso is the new director, starting on December 1.
What will Ferriso oversee when he starts?
He will oversee a $150 million campus transformation, including design and development for expanded galleries, improved visitor amenities, and updates to the Edward Larrabee Barnes building.
What experience does Ferriso bring?
Ferriso led the Portland Art Museum since 2006, where he raised more than $140 million for expansion and endowment, increased the endowment by $40 million, doubled curatorial staff, and eliminated $7 million in unfunded debt. He also directed the Philbrook Museum of Art and held roles at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Smart Museum of Art.
Who designed the DMA expansion?
Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos (Madrid and Berlin) was hired for the DMA campus transformation; the project is in schematic design.
How will the DMA expansion change the building?
The renovation will add contemporary gallery space, restore original symmetry, add transparent glazing to increase openness, and upgrade visitor and back-of-house facilities.
What challenges does the DMA face?
Recent challenges include staff layoffs, reduced operating hours, and a 2022 incident in which artwork was damaged. The museum will need to manage operations while advancing capital work.
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Additional Resources
- Dallas News
- Wikipedia: Dallas Museum of Art
- ARTnews
- Google Search: Dallas Museum of Art
- The Art Newspaper
- Google Scholar: Dallas Museum of Art
- Glasstire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Dallas Museum of Art
- Modern Luxury
- Google News: Dallas Museum of Art new director
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