FSU appoints new director to the Museum of Fine Arts

Florida State University’s Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) has appointed Kaylee Spencer as director to oversee its activities and exhibition spaces across campus.

MoFA is the largest academic art museum in the Big Bend and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum boasts 9,000 square feet of exhibition space and a permanent collection of more than 7,000 objects.

The permanent collection includes important artworks by historical and contemporary artists with recent gifts of such notable artists as Robert Rauschenberg, Bruce Davidson, Jim Denomie, David Levinthal and John Gould. Thousands visit MoFA each year for museum tours and educational events.

Spencer comes to FSU from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls (UWRI), where she was a tenured full-professor and had served in important leadership roles, including assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Art Department chair, and director of the university’s art gallery. Her own scholarly background is in art history.

“Dr. Spencer’s vision and administrative skills are an excellent match for the MoFA, and we are very excited to have her at the helm, leading the museum into its next chapter,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We are thrilled to welcome her as our new director.”

Along with curatorial endeavors, Spencer engages in art historical research focusing on the art of the Americas from the past and present. Her interdisciplinary work bridges art historical analysis, archaeological evidence, epigraphic study and contemporary art theory to uncover insights into the artistic and cultural practices of pre-Columbian and colonial societies.

“One of the main things that attracted me to this institution is the way in which the museum collaborates with so many different departments and scholars across campus,” Spencer said. “I am very excited to work across FSU and with the Tallahassee community to continue bringing world-class exhibitions and events to the museum.”

Her fieldwork includes extensive documentation and analysis of ancient Maya monuments in Mexico, with a particular focus on space and spatial analysis in the Northern Lowlands.

“My curatorial vision is deeply rooted in a profound engagement with both contemporary and historical art practices,” she said. “I strive to champion underrepresented voices and explore the intersections of culture, identity and artistic expression. By working with a diverse array of artworks and artists, I seek to create exhibitions that not only address the salient issues of our time but also illuminate how the artistic traditions of the past resonate with and inform our understanding of our world today.”

Spencer’s appointment comes as the museum prepares to open “HOMO SARGASSUM” on Monday, Sept. 9. This new exhibit will feature work from more than 30 international artists, each exploring the impacts of toxic sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean.

For more information, visit MoFA.fsu.edu.