Sarah Ganz Blythe appointed director of Harvard Art Museums
Introduction
Harvard University has announced the appointment of Sarah Ganz Blythe as the new Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard Art Museums. Interim Provost John Manning shared the news, highlighting her extensive experience and commitment to the field.
Background and Experience
Sarah Ganz Blythe brings over 25 years of museum experience to her new role. She is currently the Deputy Director of Exhibitions, Education, and Programs at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum. Her tenure at RISD includes serving as interim director from 2020 to 2023, where she navigated the institution through the pandemic, resulting in increased attendance, expanded board participation, and a balanced budget.
Career Highlights
Ganz Blythe has also held curatorial and educational positions at prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Her connection to Harvard is longstanding, having been a conservation intern at the Harvard Art Museums during her undergraduate years at Wellesley College. She has also served on the Visiting Committee of the Harvard Art Museums in 2017 and 2020.
Educational Background
Ganz Blythe holds a B.A. in Art History from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. in Modern Art from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. Her doctoral thesis, “Promising Pictures: Utopian Aspirations and Pictorial Realities in 1890s France,” was published under the guidance of art historian Linda Nochlin.
Scholarly Contributions
An active scholar, Ganz Blythe has taught at Brown University, Wellesley College, and RISD. Her publications cover a range of topics including the histories of museums, art pedagogy, and underrepresented women artists. Notable works include “Why Art Museums? The Unfinished Work of Alexander Dorner” (MIT Press, 2018) and “Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch” (Yale University Press, 2024).
Leadership and Vision
Interim President Alan M. Garber praised Ganz Blythe’s creativity and passion for teaching, emphasizing her ability to engage students and ensure the museums continue to be an academic and cultural resource. Robin Kelsey, Dean of Arts and Humanities and a member of the search committee, highlighted her ability to listen and embrace diverse perspectives.
Future Outlook
Ganz Blythe’s appointment follows an extensive nationwide search and she will succeed Martha Tedeschi, who is retiring after leading the Harvard Art Museums since 2016. Ganz Blythe looks forward to building on Tedeschi’s achievements and working with the dedicated staff at the museums.
Harvard Art Museums Overview
The Harvard Art Museums, comprising the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum, play a crucial role in advancing learning at Harvard and beyond. The museums’ collections include a quarter million works spanning from ancient times to the present, and they support both public exhibitions and academic coursework.
