Rod Bigelow

Rod Bigelow has served as executive director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art since 2013, guiding all facets of the museum’s development and reflecting his more than 20 years of experience in management of arts and cultural institutions. He joined Crystal Bridges in 2010, serving as the deputy director of operations and administration, with a focus on organizational and policy development as well as construction activities leading up to the museum’s opening in November 2011. During Bigelow’s tenure at Crystal Bridges, the museum has welcomed nearly 5 million visitors.

Prior to joining Crystal Bridges, Bigelow was chief operating officer at the Toledo Museum of Art. He was appointed interim executive director at the Toledo Museum of Art in 2009. Bigelow previously served as director of administrative and financial services at The Art Institute of Seattle, where he oversaw financial aid, accounting, facilities, and retail activities. Bigelow also spent eight years with the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington, serving initially as chief financial officer and later as interim executive director. He currently serves as treasurer of the Association of Art Museum Directors.