The Board of Trustees of the San José Museum of Art (SJMA) announced today the appointment of Jeremiah Matthew Davis as Oshman Director and Chief Executive Officer. Davis will assume the role on October 1, 2025, following a nationwide search. 

In this leadership position, Davis will work closely with the Museum’s experienced staff and the Board of Trustees to continue to advance SJMA’s ambitious 2023 to 2027 strategic plan, grow its operating capacity, and further cement its role as a cultural center for San José and Silicon Valley. 

"We are delighted to welcome Jeremiah to the San José Museum of Art,” said Board Co-President Wanda Kownacki. “His energy, leadership experience, and knowledge of contemporary art are impressive. We look forward to partnering with him to advance our mission of driving connections through socially relevant contemporary art.” 

Davis joins the San José Museum of Art from Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City, where he served for nearly nine years in senior roles with increasing responsibilities, including Director and Director Emeritus. While with Oklahoma Contemporary, Davis drove the creation of a strategic plan that significantly grew contributed revenue to support expanded interdisciplinary programming, collaborative partnerships, and the structure for the museum’s adult education program, Studio School. During his tenure, he oversaw over 50 forward-looking curatorial programs, including Chakaia Booker: Shaved Portions; Jeffrey Gibson: Speak to Me; La casa que nos inventamos: Contemporary Art from Guadalajara; and Ed Ruscha: OKLA. He also significantly expanded the museum’s artistic and educational programs as the arts center grew from its original location to its new downtown campus, increasing community engagement and driving a significant increase in attendance from 10,000 visitors to over 80,000 per year.    

Concurrent with his tenure at Oklahoma Contemporary, Davis served as Artistic Director for Marfa Contemporary in Marfa, Texas from 2016 to 2018. In addition to his experience in contemporary art, Jeremiah began his career in the New York theater community, where he worked with The Atlantic Theater Company, New York Theater Workshop, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Woodshed Collective. His career has been grounded consistently in education, teaching classes, workshops, and professional practice at the Hisar School in Istanbul, New York University, and Barnard College. 

“We are especially excited about Jeremiah’s passion for education and community engagement,” said Board Co-President, Tammy Kiely. “At Oklahoma Contemporary, he not only expanded the museum’s education initiatives but also launched interdisciplinary partnerships that introduced innovative programming to its audiences. We are delighted to collaborate with him at the San José Museum of Art.” 

“The San José Museum of Art is an inspiring museum with a rich history, talented staff, and visionary Board. Its origin as an artist-founded institution in an historic building at the heart of San José provides a strong foundation for building the future. I believe the Museum can grow to serve as both a catalyst for cultural production in California and a driver of civic engagement in the City.” Davis said. “In this new role, I look forward to collaborating with the diverse communities of San José and Silicon Valley to celebrate the region's unique histories and to imagine and implement new ways of engaging with art, culture, and ideas together. It’s an honor to be appointed to this position. I’m grateful to the Board of Trustees for extending this incredible opportunity to me.”  

SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART 

The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond.    

SJMA is located on Plaza de Cesar Chavez at 110 South Market Street in downtown San José, California. The Museum is open Thursday 4–9pm; Friday 11am–9pm; Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and free to members, college students, youth and children ages 17 and under, and school teachers (with valid ID). Admission is free from 6–9pm on the first Friday of every month. For up-to-date information, call 408.271.6840 or visit SanJoseMuseumofArt.org.