NAPLES, FLA.- Artis—Naples announced today the appointment of Courtney McNeil as Museum Director and Chief Curator of The Baker Museum. McNeil joins Artis—Naples from Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, where she worked for nearly 15 years. During that time, she had progressive responsibilities including serving as Curator of Fine Arts and Exhibitions, Chief Curator & Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and, most recently, as Interim Co-Managing Director. At Telfair Museums, McNeil curated dozens of exhibitions including Collecting Impressionism: Telfair’s Modern Vision and Mickalene Thomas at Giverny.

After a nationwide search process, McNeil was the unanimous choice of the search committee, which included members of the Artis—Naples Board of Directors, the Museum Board Committee and Artis─Naples administrative staff.

CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen said, “We are thrilled to welcome such a talented, thoughtful and collaborative leader to the Artis─Naples team. Courtney’s expertise in the visual arts and proven track record of leadership and creativity make her a perfect fit for this role. Between the recent completion of the repair and expansion of The Baker Museum and this appointment, we have clearly entered an exciting new phase in the ongoing growth and evolution of The Baker Museum.”




McNeil said, “I am honored and delighted to be joining Artis—Naples and The Baker Museum at this exciting moment in the organization’s history. As the museum enters its third decade and welcomes visitors to its newly expanded facility, I look forward to continuing to develop its reputation for world-class collections, compelling exhibitions and engaging programming."

A graduate of Georgetown University and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, McNeil will be moving to Naples with her husband and three sons. She will begin her role on January 18, 2021.

The Baker Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary season this year and reopened to the general public on November 1 with timed-entry tickets and reduced capacity due to COVID-19. The museum expansion opened at the same time, having been completed earlier in the fall.

Anchoring the fall season is the third major exhibition in the history of The Baker Museum by American artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly has long been associated with The Baker Museum, including an exhibition of his works that was featured when the museum opened in November 2000, with Chihuly himself attending the inaugural festivities. Dreaming Forms: Chihuly Then and Now, includes stunning artworks presented in The Baker Museum as well as around the cultural campus.

In addition to Dreaming Forms: Chihuly Then and Now, this fall The Baker Museum also features the exhibitions Subject Matters: Selections from the Permanent Collection, Rodin: Truth Form Life / Selections from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Collections and Magritte: Reflections of Another World – Paintings from the Van Parys Family.