Milwaukee Art Museum Welcomes Thomas Busciglio-Ritter as Abert Family Associate Curator of American Art

The Milwaukee Art Museum recently appointed Dr. Thomas Busciglio-Ritter as the institution’s Abert Family Associate Curator of American Art following an extensive and competitive search. In this role, Dr. Busciglio-Ritter will oversee key areas of the Museum’s renowned American art collection, which features iconic works by artists of the Ashcan School and The Eight, Prairie School, and other pivotal movements spanning the 17th to mid-20th centuries.

“Thomas’s expertise and commitment to broadening the stories told through American art make him a perfect fit for the Milwaukee Art Museum,” said Marcelle Polednik, PhD, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director. “We are thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to the contributions he will bring to our exhibitions and programs.”

Dr. Busciglio-Ritter brings a multinational perspective to American art and a wealth of expertise and museum experience to Milwaukee. Most recently, he served as Assistant Curator of American Western Art at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, where he helped reimagine the American galleries during the institution’s reinstallation and co-curated the traveling exhibition All Aboard: The Railroad in American Art, 1840–1955. Throughout his career, he has integrated diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary narratives into the study and presentation of American art. Prior to his tenure at the Joslyn Art Museum, he held a position at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he contributed to the acclaimed exhibition Jules Tavernier and the Elem Pomo.

“His research demonstrates his commitment to an inclusive and cross-cultural presentation of American art,” said Elizabeth Siegel, Chief of Curatorial Affairs. “We are delighted to welcome him to the Museum where his expertise in transnational artistic exchanges will support our mission to reveal compelling stories through art in our collection and exhibitions.”

In his new role, Dr. Busciglio-Ritter will lead the interpretation and expansion of the Museum’s American art collection. His responsibilities include organizing collection rotations and major exhibitions with scholarly publications, guiding acquisitions to enrich the collection, and reinterpreting artworks to reflect broader cultural narratives. He will also collaborate with key partners, including the Chipstone Foundation and the Layton Art Collection, to develop dynamic programming that showcases the Museum’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity.

“I’m honored to join the Milwaukee Art Museum and its exceptional curatorial team,” said Dr. Thomas Busciglio-Ritter. “I look forward to exploring new narratives within the collection and connecting diverse audiences with the history of American art.”Dr. Busciglio-Ritter earned his PhD in art history from the University of Delaware, where he received a graduate certificate in museum studies and was an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Curatorial Fellow. He holds master’s degrees from École du Louvre and Sciences Po Paris and is a trilingual scholar fluent in French, English, and German. He continues to publish in leading journals such as Panorama: Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art. He started his position at the Milwaukee Art Museum on January 29, 2025.