Florida State University’s Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) has appointed Kaylee Spencer as director to oversee 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 has 9,000 square feet of exhibition space and a permanent collection of over 7,000 objects.
The permanent collection includes important works of art by historical and contemporary artists, as well as recent donations from such renowned 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 professor and held key leadership roles, including associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, head of the art department, and director of the university’s art gallery. Her own academic background is in art history.
“Dr. Spencer’s vision and administrative skills are an excellent fit for MoFA, and we are thrilled to have her at the helm and lead the museum into its next chapter,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We are very pleased to welcome her as our new director.”
In addition to her curatorial work, Spencer is dedicated to art historical research with a focus on the art of the Americas, past and present. Her interdisciplinary work combines art historical analysis, archaeological finds, epigraphic studies, and contemporary art theory to gain insights into the artistic and cultural practices of pre-Columbian and colonial societies.
“One of the main reasons I chose this institution is the way the museum collaborates with so many different departments and scholars across campus,” Spencer said. “I’m very excited to work with FSU and the Tallahassee community to continue to bring 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 an intensive engagement with contemporary and historical art practices,” she said. “I strive to support underrepresented voices and explore the intersections of culture, identity and artistic expression. By working with a diverse range of artworks and artists, I seek to create exhibitions that not only address the most important issues of our time, but also illuminate how the artistic traditions of the past resonate with and shape our understanding of our world today.”
Spencer’s appointment comes as the museum prepares to open HOMO SARGASSUM on Monday, September 9. This new exhibition will feature work by more than 30 international artists, each exploring the impact of toxic Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean.
For more information, visit MoFA.fsu.edu.
