The Speed Art Museum announced that Raphaela Platow, executive director since 2021, will conclude her tenure at the museum. Citing personal reasons, Platow has chosen not to extend her contract with the museum when it ends on August 30 of this year. The board of directors is already establishing a succession plan.
“The Speed Art Museum board is grateful to Raphaela for her meaningful contributions, and [we are] collaborating closely with her to ensure a smooth transition,” the board of directors said in a collective statement. Platow’s decision signals the end of a significant period of development and expansion at the museum.
Under Platow’s leadership, the Speed Art Museum revitalized its visitor experience and renewed its commitment to community building, not only through permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions but also through “the exploration of broader narratives of art and culture and engaging with contemporary issues that reflect the Louisville community,” the museum said.
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During her four-year tenure, Platow has guided the first major re-installation of the permanent collection since 2016; introduced new curators to fortify the museum’s contemporary, Native American, and African collections; and appointed a new senior leadership team to develop an institutional strategy that encourages transparency and adaptability to changes in both the museum field and local culture. Platow’s leadership also nurtured community engagement programming and special events.
“Raphaela has made significant contributions to the Speed Art Museum during her tenure—including the forthcoming launch of our Speed Art Park this fall—and we appreciate her work in creating a space that welcomes everyone,” said John Crockett III, board chair. “She has been gracious in ensuring a smooth transition that benefits the Speed, museum staff, and the community as a whole.”
Platow played a vital role in securing a significant amount of funding for the $22 million, three-acre Art Park project as well as several million more dollars that support exhibitions and initiatives that increase museum access. Throughout the large-scale project, Platow has been an advocate for an inclusive space that serves as both a shared public gathering place and a symbol of creative expression, “furthering her belief that art and the creative process contribute to the holistic well-being of people and communities,” the museum said. The Art Park was designed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture and will open October 1.
Platow also oversaw improvements to the museum’s architecture and facilities, including the installation of a new roof, renovations to staff offices, and redesigns of public spaces in the interest of creating a more comfortable visitor experience.
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“Thanks to our incredible staff and board, we have accomplished so much over the past four years, including making the Speed and its collection as accessible as possible for the people of Kentucky,” Platow said. “We have seen tremendous growth and change during my time as director, and that makes me confident that now is the right time to step back and allow the next leader to take the Speed into the future.”
Before coming to the Speed, Platow was the Alice and Harris Weston Director and Chief Curator of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati; Chief Curator and Acting Director of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University; International Curator of the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh; and held positions at the Kunstforum München and Projektraum Berlin. “I maintain my deep commitment to leadership development, shaping inclusive cultures and community-forward initiatives, and I will continue to champion the Speed’s programs and people as a supporter of its mission and the greater arts and cultural community in the region,” she said.
The Speed Art Museum is the oldest and largest art museum in Kentucky and has been a cultural resource in the region for almost 100 years. While it is located on the campus of the University of Louisville, it operates as an independent nonprofit institution. Upcoming projects include the Art Park in 2025 and the museum’s centennial celebration in 2027.
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This article appears in Jun 6-19, 2025.