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Speed Art Museum names Kathleen Jameson director ahead of 2027 centennial

Louisville, KentuckyPublished 18 Sep 2026

The Speed Art Museum on South Third Street in Louisville.
The Speed Art Museum on South Third Street in Louisville.

Why.architecture / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Jameson, a UofL alum who interned at the Speed, takes over Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum as it prepares to turn 100.

The Speed Art Museum named Kathleen V. Jameson its new director as the Louisville museum prepares for a 2027 centennial. Courier Journal says she took the reins Sept. 9; GlobeNewswire and Louisville Public Media say she started Sept. 8, with the public announcement the next day. Jameson, a University of Louisville graduate who worked at the Speed under Peter Morrin, most recently led Pennsylvania’s James A. Michener Art Museum and earlier the Mint Museum in Charlotte.

Shared facts

The Speed Art Museum named Kathleen V. Jameson as its new director.

The museum announced the appointment on Sept. 9, 2026.

The Speed is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum.

The museum is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027.

Jameson has more than three decades of museum leadership experience.

Jameson earned a master’s degree at the University of Louisville.

While a graduate student, Jameson worked with former Speed director Peter Morrin.

Jameson most recently served as executive director of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Pennsylvania.

Jameson previously served as president and CEO of the Mint Museum in Charlotte.

At the Mint, Jameson established a digital media program and a Latino and Latin American initiative.

At the Mint, Jameson led organizational restructuring, governance reform, and strategic planning.

Earlier in her career, Jameson held leadership roles at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, including assistant director.

Jameson said her early priorities include listening to staff and community partners and preparing for the centennial.

Disputed facts

Sources disagree on whether Jameson started as director on Sept. 8 or Sept. 9.

Shared opinions

Jameson said her graduate years helped shape her scholarship and museum career.

Crockett said Jameson understands museums from scholarship and collections to fundraising, governance, and community engagement.

Crockett said the board is excited to welcome Jameson back and confident she can lead the museum’s next chapter.

Jameson said returning to Louisville and the Speed is deeply meaningful.

Jameson said she has valued the Speed’s commitment to artistic excellence and connection.

Jameson said she is excited to work with the museum’s staff, board, artists, supporters, and community.

Jameson called the centennial a chance to celebrate the Speed’s history and think ambitiously about its future.

Jameson said museums are at their best when they bring art, ideas, and people together.

Jameson said she looks forward to deepening connections, welcoming new audiences, and a place of belonging.

Louisville Courier Journal

Speed Art Museum names new director ahead of centennial

Maggie Menderski

Published 9 Sep 2026 accessed 18 Sep 2026

Facts

Board chair John Crockett said Jameson has a meaningful tie to Louisville.

The museum is at 2035 S. Third St.

Opinion

Crockett said Jameson brings the experience, vision, and leadership the Speed needs.

Jameson said her graduate years in Louisville helped shape her scholarship and museum career.

The Courier Journal says Jameson is thrilled those career milestones led her back to Louisville.

Louisville Public Media

Speed Art Museum names Kathleen Jameson new director

Giselle Rhoden

Published 9 Sep 2026 accessed 18 Sep 2026

Facts

Jameson succeeds Raphaela Platow, who led the Speed from 2021 through the end of last year.

Speed officials said Jameson will play a crucial role ahead of the museum’s centennial.

Jameson has executive experience running other American art museums.

Jameson has served on two museums’ boards of directors.

Louisville Public Media says Jameson has been Michener executive director since 2018.

Jameson’s Mint tenure lasted seven years.

Jameson served as the Speed’s directorial intern and research assistant in 1995.

Opinion

Jameson said the anniversary is a chance to think ambitiously about the Speed’s future.

GlobeNewswire

Louisville's Speed Art Museum Announces Kathleen V. Jameson as New Director

Speed Art Museum

Published 9 Sep 2026 accessed 18 Sep 2026

Facts

Jameson’s appointment marks a return to Louisville and an institution tied to the start of her career.

At MFA Houston, Jameson’s work included long-range planning and an international architect search.

Jameson was introduced at a Sept. 9 press conference with Crockett, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Mayor Craig Greenberg, and Rep. Morgan McGarvey.

Jameson specializes in late-19th- and early-20th-century American art, photography, and works on paper.

The Speed sits on the University of Louisville campus but operates as an independent nonprofit.

Jameson continued her American-art focus in doctoral studies at the University of Delaware.

Jameson was a scholar-in-residence at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and is a National Arts Strategies fellow.

The Speed’s encyclopedic collection, exhibitions, and programming explore contemporary issues through art.

Opinion

Board chair John Crockett said Jameson brings the experience, vision, and leadership the Speed needs.

Crockett said Jameson has a meaningful connection to Louisville and the Speed.