About Lisa Grove

Lisa Grove has over 20 years of experience in art museum leadership and strategy. She is currently leading operational planning for an ambitious new museum project, the Obama Presidential Center, opening in Chicago in 2025. Previously, she served as Director/CEO of Telfair Museums, the oldest art museum in the South, and as Deputy Director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. With an MBA and a master's in art history from London's prestigious Courtauld Institute of Art, as well as an undergraduate degree from Stanford, she is as comfortable with a spreadsheet as she is speaking with collectors about her award-winning exhibitions and community programs.

A fearless fundraiser, Lisa has raised over $150 million for her institutions in some challenging environments, completing two endowment campaigns ahead of schedule by personally securing several six- and seven-figure gifts. She led two dramatic financial turnarounds, producing 13 consecutive years of budget surpluses and generated record-breaking financial results, including a 25% increase in contributed income, 50% increase in attendance and paid admissions, and a 75% increase in membership. She currently helps ensure that an ambitious $750 million building project proceeds on time and on budget.

At the same time, Lisa spearheaded an ambitious curatorial program that garnered national recognition for her exhibitions and scholarly publications, bringing a new spotlight and renewed energy to her institution. Her work has made important contributions in fields as diverse as Ashcan School paintings, African American history, and contemporary art.

Lisa is an entrepreneurial leader with a background in strategy consulting and a bias for action. She has a talent for creating positive culture among her staff and volunteers while motivating her teams to achieve stretch goals. Lisa has the relevant experience and personal attributes necessary to lead her institutions to new heights.