BY KAREN BOSSICK
The Sun Valley Museum of Art has named a Californian the organization’s new executive director.
Jennifer Wells Green comes to SVMoA from Los Angeles, where she serves as executive director of development at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. During her tenure there she led a capital campaign to build the award-winning Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios.
Before that she spent 14 years in leadership at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles where, as deputy director of development, she led strategic fundraising, board development, donor engagement and special projects to reimagine and build the institution. The Hammer Museum, known for its permanent collection of historical works and special exhibits of edgy contemporary art, is now globally recognized as a leader in the contemporary art field.
Green has an advanced degree in Art History from Brown University in Rhode Island and an undergraduate degree from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif. She began her career at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis before taking a curatorial role at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. She curated the PaineWebber (now UBS) art collection and served as a vice president at Citibank Art Advisory.
The southern California native will move to Ketchum with her husband and their teenage daughter.
The SVMoA’s executive search committee conducted a nationwide search for a leader who could propel the organization into its second half century. Green was selected with the unanimous consent of the board following an extensive review of more than a hundred candidates.
“We listened closely to what we heard from the board, staff and community about the essential attributes required to address the priorities of Sun Valley Museum of Art, and we are confident that Jennifer Wells Green is the ideal leader to steer the Museum forward,” said Board President Ellen Gillespie.
Green will be responsible for SVMoA’s overall management, including its exhibitions, education and community engagement and performing arts programs. She also will oversee its physical, financial and human resources and its future development.
She replaces Kristin Poole, who has served as SVMoA’s interim executive director since June 2019 and artistic director since 1997.
"It’s thrilling to join Sun Valley Museum of Art at this moment and to lead an institution with such a rich history and artist-centered focus in a location of extraordinary natural beauty,” said Green. “SVMoA has, over its 50-year history, become a critical and much-beloved space for art, education and community. I am honored to extend that legacy and look forward to collaborating and innovating with the museum's board and team to support and strengthen SVMoA as a vibrant and inclusive institution."
Poole said Green’s strong museum experience is perfectly sited to elevate the museum’s profile.
“(She will) strengthen the many ways we are serving this community and attracting arts, musicians and thought leaders from around the country,” Poole added.