Robin Nicholson, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art’s executive director since 2023, died Feb. 17 following a sudden illness. His death was announced on social media.
“Robin was a dedicated leader and a champion of art. Out of respect for his family, we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time,” the museum wrote in a Facebook post. “The museum’s leadership and staff are currently focused on supporting Robin’s loved ones and one another as we navigate this sudden loss.”
A spokesperson for the museum said more information would be made available over the coming days.
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Nicholson had a master’s degree in art history from the University of Cambridge, and he was a renowned scholar of the art of the 18th-century Stuart royal courts in Paris and Rome.
Between 2006 and 2014, he served as deputy director for art and education, and head of exhibitions, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
He also worked in management positions at Pittsburgh’s Frick Museum and Savannah’s Telfair Museum of Art.
At the James Museum, Nicholson succeeded Laura Hine as executive director.
In a 2024 interview with the St. Pete Catalyst, he discussed expanding the James Museum’s scope by including more works by Indigenous artists — works that didn’t necessarily reflect history, lore and purely Indigenous culture.
“I think we owe it to those who come after us that we get things right,” he said. “Now. So we are working on a strategic plan at the moment — most strategic plans are three or five years, but I want to set the baseline for the next … what will the museum look like in 25 years? 50 years from now?”
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