Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art Brings in New Deputy Director, Jeff Lambson, During Time of Growth

LOGAN, Utah — The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University has announced that Jeff Lambson will be joining its team as the deputy director.

This new position coincides with a significant period of growth for NEHMA, as it inaugurates the Wanlass Center for Art Education and Research and continues to enhance programming and exhibitions for both the university and the community.

Lambson is a proven museum leader, an award-winning curator, and the recipient of the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Award for Service in the Arts. He was named by Salt Lake Magazine as one of Utah’s most influential people of the past 20 years and was selected by Westword Magazine as one of Colorado’s 100 Creatives.

He is the first staff member at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to have a work of art acquired and named in his honor, and Lambson’s work in the arts has received national and international recognition from W Magazine, Artforum, PBS, Arts Asia Pacific, City Weekly, Hyperallergic, Sunset Magazine, artdaily, Salt Lake Tribune, Forbes, MSN, Denver Post, and BBC’s international television program The Culture Show.

Lambson brings 25 years of experience in museums, primarily at universities, in director and curatorial roles. Since 2017, he has led the University Art Galleries at the University of Colorado Denver, including the Emmanuel Art Gallery and the Experience Gallery. During this time, he nearly quadrupled annual attendance, expanded to an additional gallery, tripled the annual budget, dramatically increased national and international press, and helped make the galleries a significant part of the university's overall strategy.

Jeff brings together students, community members, and local and international artists in compelling exhibitions that explore and dialogue with ideas relevant to us today.

Before working at CU Denver, he was the founding curator of contemporary art at Brigham Young University. During his career, he has organized ambitious exhibitions featuring prominent artists from around the world, including Dan Steinhilber, Doug Aitken, Gabriel Dawe, Takashi Murakami, Cory Arcangel, Hubbard and Birchler, Jenny Holzer, Tenzing Rigdol, Oliver Herring, Shepard Fairey, and others.

From 2001 to 2007, Lambson worked at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden as the special assistant to the director, working on high-level mission-based projects such as strategic planning, board engagement, evaluation, exhibitions and technology.

Jeff’s wife, Ann, is a museum education leader, formerly at the Denver Art Museum, the BYU Museum of Art, and the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, and has recently started her own company. Ann’s family has roots in Providence, Utah. The couple has spent time in Cache Valley over the years and are excited to be a part of the community and campus as well as live in the beautiful landscape.

Executive Director and Chief Curator Katie Lee-Koven states: “Jeff brings together the experience, visionary thinking, passion and kindness that I was looking for to join me in leading our museum as we enter this new era of engagement and expansion with our Wanlass Center for Art Education and Center. We are so thrilled to welcome him and Ann to the USU and Cache Valley community.”

“The draw of Logan and USU is one of those dream opportunities that do not come along very often,” Lambson said. “The NEHMA is an important voice in the local and national art community, and its programs and exhibitions are respected across the country. I’m thrilled to join Katie and her amazing team to support the vision of USU to foster impactful and innovative lives through art. I believe art is a powerful medium to make real change happen, and the minds and hearts of students are at the center of this exciting growth.”

About Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art: The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University. Admission is free and open to all. Parking is available in the free museum parking stalls and at the Gateway Terrace. For more information, go to our website at usu.edu/artmuseum or contact Zayne Foy, zayne.foy@usu.edu, 435-797-0227.