Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that the Bruce Museum has selected Mary-Kate O’Hare to serve as its next Executive Director and CEO, effective April 7, 2025. 

O’Hare brings 25 years of curatorial and leadership experience to the role. She comes to the Bruce from Citi Private Bank Art Advisory, where she currently serves as head of art advisory and director. Throughout her 12-year tenure with Citi Private Bank Art Advisory, O’Hare oversaw business growth, strategic development, and fiduciary governance as she led a team of art specialists within a major financial institution. She leveraged her art expertise to advise clients on art acquisitions and sales, museum loans and gifts and art financing, helping collectors optimize the value of their art collections and build legacy for future generations.

Prior to her time at Citi Private Bank Art Advisory, O’Hare spent 13 years at the Newark Museum, where she worked her way up from assistant curator to curator of American art and department head. She was responsible for all aspects of exhibition planning, acquisitions, and care and management of the collection. She led community engagement programs, negotiated gifts and purchases, promoted public awareness of the Museum, and organized major exhibitions. Previously, O’Hare held curatorial roles at the Morris Museum and served as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and William Paterson University.

O’Hare earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in art history from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from Allegheny College.

You can read the full press release here.

Ben Tobin and Sarah James led this search with Ryan Leichenauer, Arianna Williams, and Alaine Small.