The Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) at Southern Utah University has appointed Dr. Rebecca “Becky” Bloom as Interim Director following the departure of Executive Director Jessica Kinsey, who accepted a faculty position at the University of Oklahoma. Bloom begins her new role August 1, 2025.
Bloom has been SUMA’s Diane P. Stewart Director of Curatorial Affairs since 2022, bringing expertise in Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist material culture, and the role of religion in museums. At SUMA, she has curated exhibitions that connect local and global perspectives, including The Space Between: Visions of the Southwest, Harry Bertoia: Master Modernist, Salt Lines: Exploring Climate, Environment, and the Saline Influx, and A Dream Deferred: New Perspectives on Black Experience.
Her scholarship also highlights Cedar City’s cultural history. She curated L. Robert Gardner: Cedar City Mid-Century Modern, showcasing the work of a local architect, and presented “The Mystery of Dixon’s Cedar City Works” at the BYU Museum of Art Symposium, exploring Maynard Dixon’s ties to Southern Utah.
“Becky brings a depth of knowledge, curiosity, and heart to everything she touches,” said Michael T. Schmidt, Dean of SUU’s College of Performing & Visual Arts. “Her leadership will ensure continuity and innovation during this transitional period.”
In addition to her curatorial work, Bloom has taught History of Non-Western Art at SUU since 2023. Before joining SUMA, she held curatorial roles at the Rubin Museum of Art and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. She earned her PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Michigan, an MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School, and a BA in Religion and History of Art from Middlebury College.
As Interim Director, Bloom will continue guiding SUMA’s mission of engagement and experiential learning. Upcoming exhibitions include Art for All: The Cedar City Art Exhibit, 1940–2008 and the 2025 Faculty Exhibition.
Located on SUU’s campus, SUMA houses nearly 2,000 works in its permanent collection, including pieces by Maynard Dixon, Jimmie F. Jones, Edith Hamlin, Eve Drewelowe, and an extensive collection of prints by artists such as Marc Chagall, Käthe Kollwitz, Kawase Hasui, and Thomas Hart Benton. Named the best-designed museum in Utah by Architectural Digest, SUMA’s Brooks + Scarpa building is itself a work of art. Admission is always free, making it a cultural cornerstone for the region.
For details on current and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.suu.edu/suma.
