Welcome, Tiara L. Paris

Tiara L. Paris began her new role at the CMA in January as Margaret and Loyal Wilson Chief Exhibition, Design, and Publications Officer. She is responsible for overseeing the museum’s world-renowned exhibition program, publication, and design initiatives.
Paris comes to the CMA from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, in Kansas City, Missouri, where she has served as the head of exhibition planning for the past seven years. Previously she held the position of director of exhibitions at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Paris’s first professional museum role was at the Cleveland Museum of Art 20 years ago. Over the past two decades, she followed the CMA’s exhibitions program closely and had the opportunity to partner with the museum on co-organized exhibitions including Monet in Normandy (2006), Rembrandt in America (2012), and more recently, Alberto Giacometti: Toward the Ultimate Figure (2022). “The museum’s exhibitions, publications, design, and installations have set the gold standard for cultural institutions,” she says. “This is true not only within the United States but also internationally and speaks to the excellence of museum leadership and staff, as well as the strength of the collection.”

Paris oversees many teams that provide vital support for ensuring that all aspects of an exhibition come together seamlessly. Having begun her career at the CMA, she is looking forward to building upon her existing relationships and aiding in the strengthening of cross-departmental collaborations. “In my time at other institutions, I have learned the importance of communication and collaboration,” she says. “Exhibitions are like giant puzzles, with pieces of all shapes and sizes and tasks that shift in importance as the project develops. Having a strong team helps us place these pieces more effectively. The whole museum comes together to make these extraordinary experiences happen for our visitors.”

She enjoys how closely her role is tied to the collection and allows her to work with art across the museum’s encyclopedic holdings. “Art is at the core of everything we do. Working with art across the spectrum from ancient Egyptian sculptures to Renaissance paintings to Pre-Columbian objects—that is something I truly love about this role,” she says. Paris earned a master’s degree in art history and museum studies from Case Western Reserve University. The museum’s joint program with the university was what initially attracted her to Cleveland from her home state of Colorado. 

Paris is excited to contribute to the museum’s legacy and future by working with the leadership team to shape the direction of the exhibition program and prioritizing the visitor experience. “Art speaks directly to the human experience and can be deeply personal,” she says. “By providing opportunities to engage with art in meaningful ways, my hope is that visitors leave an exhibition knowing more about themselves and the world around them.”