The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is entering a new era under the tutelage of freshly appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Robert Stein. He will be the second leader since the collection left the Carter family’s stewardship.
Since the departure of 14-year leader Andrew J. Walker, the museum’s chief operating officer Scott Wilcox served as interim executive director. In November, Stein will begin shaping the next chapter of the Amon Carter.
Stein will move to North Texas from Washington, D.C., where he is the chief information officer of the National Gallery of Art.
While in D.C., Stein established a first-of-its-kind AI technique to expand access for blind and low-vision visitors to the majority of the National Gallery’s collection.
Robert Stein will lead the Amon Carter Museum of American Art beginning Nov. 9, 2026. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art
Before that, he was the deputy director of three major encyclopedic art museums: the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
In his 20 years of museum leadership, Stein has expanded museums’ attendance and community engagement.
At the head of the Amon Carter, Stein plans to do the same while strengthening its national presence, deepening its impact, expanding the collections and ensuring the museum’s long-term sustainability.
Stein said the museum’s mission to make exceptional art accessible and tell the story of American creativity through diverse perspectives resonates deeply with his career-long dedication to public access. In Dallas and Indianapolis, Stein guided the art museums to offer free admission.
“I look forward to working alongside the Carter’s staff, Board, partners, supporters and artists to extend that mission, deepening the Museum’s engagement with the local community and expanding its reach to new audiences to ensure the Carter’s remarkable collection continues to shape how we understand ourselves as Americans for generations to come,” Stein said.
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Rachel Royster is a news and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, specifically focused on Tarrant County. She joined the newsroom after interning at the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald and Capital Community News in DC. A Houston native and Baylor grad, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading and being outside. She welcomes any and all news tips to her email.