The Oklahoma City Museum of Art named Bryon Chambers and Maury Ford as co-interim directors on Monday, Oct. 12. The move follows Michael Anderson's departure for the Portland Art Museum.

Chambers, director of education and visitor experience, and Ford, director of collections and exhibitions, will share the top job until the museum's Board of Trustees hires a permanent president and CEO, according to a museum press release.

"Bryon and Maury bring over 30 years of combined service to the Museum to their interim roles," Board Chair Lawrence Davis said. "Our Museum is in good hands with their guidance and dedication."

The pair brings deep institutional knowledge. Chambers has worked at OKCMOA since 2006, moving through roles in education, donor stewardship and visitor experience. He spent 13 years on the Oklahoma City Arts Commission, chairing it from 2018 to 2021.

His leadership service includes work with the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, the Oklahoma Art Education Association and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. He is completing a master's degree in museum studies at the University of Oklahoma.

Ford joined the museum as registrar in 2013 and has led collections and exhibitions since 2021. He oversaw shows including "The Painters of Pompeii" and "Edith Head: Hollywood's Costume Designer." He has run large-scale digitization projects to broaden public access to the permanent collection. Ford holds a master's degree in museum science from Texas Tech University.

A task force led by past Board Chair Meg Salyer is conducting a nationwide search for the museum's next president and CEO. The museum’s announcement did not specify a timetable for selecting a permanent leader.

Anderson, who joined OKCMOA in 2014 and was named president and CEO in January 2020, announced his departure Aug. 11. During his tenure the museum expanded its permanent collection by 30% through acquisitions and gifts. It also introduced bilingual gallery text and made admission free for visitors 17 and under.

He remained through Friday, Oct. 2, the date of the museum's 50th annual Renaissance Ball. He began his new role at the Portland Art Museum on Monday, Oct. 12.

The museum announced Davis’s appointment as board chair on Aug. 20. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2022.

Residents can reach OKCMOA at (405) 236-3100 or okcmoa.com.