Creative & Executive Director
Maria Jenson is recognized as a leader in the arts for advancing innovative strategies to sustain creative communities in the midst of rapidly changing urban environments. As Creative and Executive Director of SOMArts, Jenson has deepened the organization’s commitment to racial equity, creating clear pathways for Bay Area artists to cultivate new ideas and grow their careers. Through her leadership, Jenson has expanded SOMArts’ public programs, advanced new public-private partnerships, and fostered groundbreaking exhibitions such as The Black Woman is God, The Third Muslim: Queer and Trans* Muslim Narratives of Resistance and Resilience, and many more. These projects represent SOMArts’ commitment to incubating the growth and careers of Bay Area artists and curators.
Prior to joining SOMArts, Jenson was a key member of the SFMOMA External Relations team during the museum’s expansion and was the Founding Director of ArtPadSF, an independent art fair launched in the Tenderloin at the Phoenix Hotel in 2010. A graduate of the 2018 Getty Foundation Executive Leadership Institute, Jenson is a sought-after thought leader on the role of cultural institutions advocating for a more democratic and equitable society.
Articles and press for Maria Jenson:
From the Sugar Cube to the 101, SF Open Space, April 2019
11 of the Most Influential Women in the San Francisco Art World, 7×7, March 2018
18 Curators & Cultural Leaders to Watch Who Joined New Institutions in 2016, Culture Type,
December 2016
SOMArts names SFMOMA veteran as new Director
Administrative Staff
- Dominic Cheng, Community Engagement & Impact Manager
- Danja Critchell, Receptionist
- Jena McRae Schwirtz, Director of Operations
- Tara Marsden, Development Initiatives Manager
- Dara Katrina Del Rosario, Communications & Partnerships Manager
- La Vette Virden, Financial Manager
Creative Programs Staff
- Carolina Quintanilla, Curatorial Residency & Partnerships Director
- Matthew McKinley, Gallery Exhibitions Designer & Technical Coordinator
- Rebeca Flores, Curatorial Partnerships Associate
Event Rentals Program
- Andrew Inadomi, Client Services Manager
- Devon Nandagiri, Director of Events
Technical & Site Operations
- Alex Lukas, Director of Site Operations
- Alex Crousnillon, Director of Technical Operations
- Robert Ige, Maintenance Coordinator
Building Managers & Stage Crew
- Katie Gilmartin, Building Manager
- Dion Reiner-Guzman, Building Manager & Technician
- Colin Johnson, Building Manager & Technician
- Cathie Anderson, Building Manager & Technician
- Francis Calimlim, Building Manager
- Edgar Miranda, Technician
- Eli Lee, Building Manager & Technician
- Aja Archuleta, Technician
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Peter Woods, Art Preparator
- Sean Garahan, Technician
- Desiree Alcocer, Technician
- Scot McGoldrick, Event Facilities Staff
Image credit: SOMArts team photos courtesy of Joan Osato, Thayer Walker, and Brittney. January 2020.
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