Kim Sajet, the newly appointed director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, officially began her position on September 22 after a turbulent departure from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery earlier this year. Her transition to Milwaukee comes after facing intense criticism from President Donald Trump, who publicly called her "a highly partisan person" and "a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position." Despite the Smithsonian Institution's opposition to Trump's efforts to have her removed, Sajet resigned from her role at the National Portrait Gallery in June.

In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio's Wisconsin Today, Sajet chose not to delve into the specifics of Trump's criticism but defended her approach to museum leadership. "I will say that I'm proud of what I did in that my guiding principle was always written on the Great Seal of America, E pluribus unum, out of many, one, not E pluribus lecti, which is translated as: out of many, some," Sajet explained. Her philosophy reflects a commitment to inclusivity and representing diverse perspectives in cultural institutions.

Sajet brings an impressive track record to her new role in Milwaukee. According to ARTnews, during her tenure at the Portrait Gallery, she successfully doubled attendance, brought a contemporary perspective to the museum's collection, and raised more than $85 million in funding. These achievements demonstrate her ability to modernize museum operations while maintaining their cultural significance and financial sustainability.

As a Dutch citizen who was born in Nigeria and raised in Australia, Sajet offers a unique international perspective to the Milwaukee Art Museum. When asked about what attracted her to the position, she emphasized the quality and scope of the museum's collection. "The collection is always the first thing I look at when I say, 'Do I think I could do good here? Do I think I can advance the mission of the institution?'" she said. "What I particularly love about it is that it's international. My background is international."

Sajet specifically highlighted the museum's strong foundation, noting the Layton Collection that helped establish the museum in the 1950s and the Bradley Collection of international modern art that the museum is currently celebrating. She also praised the museum's iconic building, acknowledging its architectural significance and appeal to visitors.

Regarding the evolving role of art museums in society, Sajet traced their origins back to what she calls "cabinets of curiosity" or "wunderkammers." She explained that these early institutions were designed to preserve and transmit knowledge across generations, filling spaces with both man-made and natural wonders. "The idea was that you stuff these places full of all the man-made and natural wonders – everything from dinosaur bones to portraits of people – and then you would learn from them, and you would pass it on to the next generation," she said.

The new director emphasized how museums have transformed from being top-down hierarchical institutions to more inclusive community spaces. "The original idea was that you were – we used to hate this term at the Smithsonian – the nation's attic. You had everything all stored away and then you had this top-down hierarchy of knowledge, and all the really smart people told everybody else what they should think," Sajet explained. "Now it's a lot more of a meeting place and shared ideas and sort of a space to bring communities together."

Sajet believes that museums should challenge visitors' thinking and serve as places for profound reflection. "Not only is an art museum a place of often beauty, but it can be a place of profound reflection: self-reflection and reflection about culture in general," she noted. "I would argue that museums are one of the places where we actually think about the meaning of life. Why are we here? What's our purpose?" She added that it's acceptable for visitors to leave museums feeling unsettled or confused, as this can be part of the learning process.

Addressing the current climate of political division and rising violence, Sajet sees art museums as potential bridges for healing social rifts. "I truly believe there are more things that unite us than divide us. We're in this age of fragmentation, and that fragmentation has been supercharged by social media," she observed. Museums, she argues, offer unique opportunities for people to meet others they might not normally encounter and have experiences outside their usual social media feeds.

Sajet emphasized the power of museums as convening places where empathy can be built between different groups of people. "A real power that museums have is as a convening place where you can build empathy with others. If we learn more from each other, a lot of those differences become smaller and smaller," she concluded. Her vision for the Milwaukee Art Museum reflects her belief that cultural institutions can serve as healing spaces in an increasingly divided society, fostering curiosity and understanding rather than reinforcing existing divisions.