Jack Becker Leads Joslyn Art Museum Into a New Era

December 2nd, 2025

The Joslyn Art Museum reopened in September 2024 after completing a two-year, $100 million expansion and renovation, one of the most significant cultural investments in Omaha’s history. The revitalized museum features expanded gallery space, upgraded public areas, and new educational facilities, reinforcing Joslyn’s role as a cornerstone of the region’s arts community.

Jack Becker, the museum’s executive director and CEO, says his connection to the arts began early, but his professional path was far from linear. After earning an undergraduate degree in art history, he moved to Alaska, spending part of his time living in a tent and working a variety of jobs, including cleaning fish, while deciding on his future. Eventually, he returned to the field, pursuing graduate degrees in art history and business.

Becker went on to hold positions in Connecticut and Tennessee, building experience that aligned with Joslyn’s long-term ambitions. His leadership in major museum projects and his interest in expansion work made him an ideal fit when the Omaha institution sought new leadership. Becker arrived in Omaha in 2010, drawn by both the museum’s potential and the city’s strong support for the arts.

The recent expansion, Becker says, demonstrates how deeply Omaha values cultural institutions. The project adds not only physical space but also new opportunities for learning, community engagement, and artistic exploration, reinforcing the idea that the arts have real power to shape a city’s identity.

Reflecting on his career, Becker notes that he never could have predicted the path ahead when he was a young man working in Alaska. His journey underscores the unpredictability of life in the arts, and the possibilities that can emerge from unexpected places.

From the KVNO Arts Desk, this is Michael Hilt.