New Leadership at New Mexico Museum of Art: Marisa Sage Named Executive Director

The New Mexico Museum of Art, one of the state’s most important cultural institutions, is entering a new chapter. The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs has appointed Marisa Sage as the museum’s new executive director, effective March 28, 2026. In this role she will guide the museum’s strategic direction, deepen community engagement, and strengthen the museum’s role in New Mexico’s artistic landscape.

Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Museum of Art is renowned for its commitment to preserving and presenting the creative legacy of the region while fostering innovative contemporary practice. Sage’s appointment reflects a purposeful step forward in advancing that mission.

A Visionary Leader for a Dynamic Museum

Sage brings more than 20 years of professional experience leading museums, galleries and cultural foundations. Her career is marked by a blend of curatorial excellence, strategic fundraising and community-centered museum practice, positioning her to lead the Museum of Art as it expands its reach and relevance at home and beyond.

Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, says Sage’s work reflects a deep understanding of New Mexico’s cultural terrain and the integral role museums play in civic life. Her dedication to artists, public engagement and place-based storytelling makes her uniquely qualified to advance the museum’s mission.

What Marisa Sage Brings to New Mexico

Before her appointment at the Museum of Art, Sage served as director and head curator of the University Art Museum at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. There she led the planning, construction and opening of a new 10,000-square-foot facility, expanded exhibition programs and public engagement initiatives, doubled attendance and secured significant support from national funders including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sage’s leadership philosophy emphasizes access, equity and collaboration. She has developed bilingual interpretation and accessibility programs, and during the COVID-19 pandemic played a statewide leadership role on the Museums and Cultural Institutions Recovery Subcommittee. She also co-founded Desierto Mountain Time, a collaborative initiative among cultural organizations across the Southwest and Mexico border region supported by the Ford Foundation.

Her earlier career spans leadership roles at the Rema Hort Mann Foundation in New York, where she amplified artist grant programs nationally, and at Salisbury University Art Galleries in Maryland. She also founded the Like the Spice Gallery in Brooklyn and led the Williamsburg Gallery Association.

A Statement from Marisa Sage

Sage describes her new role at the New Mexico Museum of Art as an opportunity to build a museum that reflects and serves its communities while advancing new ideas and perspectives.

“Art is for everyone, and museums have a responsibility to reflect the communities they serve while advancing new ideas and diverse perspectives,” she says.

Her leadership will span both the historic Museum of Art building on the Santa Fe Plaza and the Vladem Contemporary, strengthening connections between historical collections and contemporary creative practice.

The Museum’s Role in New Mexico

The New Mexico Museum of Art plays a central role in the cultural life of Santa Fe and the state, offering exhibitions, educational programming and public engagement opportunities that spotlight the depth and diversity of artistic expression rooted in the Southwest. Sage’s leadership arrives at a pivotal moment as the museum continues to expand its reach and impact.

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