Chris Cook and the Creative Pulse of the Bemis Center

May 4th, 2026

Chris Cook didn’t begin his journey in the Midwest. Originally from Florida, he found his path into the arts in Chicago, where he studied Art History, Theory, and Criticism. From there, his career moved through museums and institutions in Sioux City, Kansas City, and Salina, Kansas, before eventually leading him to Miami.

But something kept calling him back.

Cook describes it almost poetically, the pull of the region, the energy surrounding it. What began as a professional opportunity turned into something more lasting. Nearly 11 years later, he’s still here, serving as Executive Director of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.

So what makes Omaha, and the Midwest stick?

For Cook, it’s a combination of a strong and evolving arts ecosystem and a community that believes in supporting it. He points to Omaha’s philanthropic spirit as a key factor, where donors understand the importance of investing in creative work. That support allows institutions like the Bemis Center to thrive in increasingly rare ways.

And the Bemis itself stands apart.

Cook describes it as a unique space in the art world, one that balances experimentation with presentation. It’s not just a place where art is displayed, but where it’s created, developed, and pushed forward. That flexibility allows the organization to respond quickly to shifts in contemporary art, staying relevant in a constantly changing landscape.

At its core, Cook sees the Bemis as a living, responsive environment, one that evolves alongside the artists it serves.

That evolution matters.

Cook emphasizes that creative output isn’t just important within the art world, it’s essential to society as a whole. Art, in all its forms, reflects who we are, challenges how we think, and offers new ways to understand the world around us. Without it, he suggests, the cultural landscape would feel incomplete, if not altogether bleak.

For Cook, this isn’t just professional philosophy. It’s personal.

He describes his connection to the arts not as a career path, but as a way of life. It’s something that has shaped his decisions, guided his work, and kept him engaged over the years. Once he stepped into that world, there was no turning back.

Today, through his leadership at the Bemis Center, Cook continues to foster that same sense of discovery and connection, ensuring that Omaha remains not just a place where art is shown, but where it truly lives.