As we begin a new year and mark the 40th anniversary of Oolite Arts, we are thrilled to announce several key updates about our organization’s leadership and future direction.

Welcoming Michael Loveland as Director of Exhibitions and Community Outreach

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Miami native and accomplished artist Michael Loveland to the newly created role of Director of Exhibitions and Community Outreach.

Loveland brings over 30 years of experience in artistic program development, curatorial strategy, arts education, and community engagement to his new role. His works are included in the permanent collections of renowned institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Pérez Art Museum (Miami), Brooklyn Museum of Art (Brooklyn), The Margulies Collection (Miami), and various private collections worldwide. “In our search to fill the Director of Programming position and plan for a robust celebration of our 40th anniversary, we recognized the need to create a dedicated role focused on exhibitions and community outreach,” said Maggy Cuesta, Interim CEO of Oolite Arts. “Michael’s leadership and perspective as both an artist and arts advocate will expand our vision of collaboration and public engagement.”

Introducing Nuria Richards as Interim Director of Development

We are also excited to welcome Nuria Richards as Interim Director of Development. An arts leader, cultural producer, and creative economy advocate, Richards brings years of expertise to this role. As Director of Development at Locust Projects, she led strategic fundraising initiatives during the organization’s landmark 25th-anniversary expansion to Little River. Richards has also held prominent roles at Piero Atchugarry Gallery and Ascaso Gallery, where she specialized in museum relations, operations, business development and strategic planning. Additionally, she has worked as an art consultant, expertly guiding estate planning and sales for private collections to align with philanthropic goals.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nuria to our team. Her experience and strategic approach to outreach and development will be a valuable asset to our organization in the year ahead,” said Maggy Cuesta, Interim CEO of Oolite Arts.

In addition to her professional roles, Richards is part of ArtTable, a nationwide organization dedicated to advancing the leadership of women and nonbinary professionals in the visual arts. She served as the organization’s Florida Chapter Chair of Programming in 2019, followed by her tenure as VP of Finance, and currently as Board President of the organization. She attended the National University in Mexico City (Fine Arts) and the Monterrey Institute of Technology (International Business); she holds an Art Business Graduate degree from Sotheby’s Institute of Art & Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management.

Looking Ahead

In addition to Richards and Loveland, our new president and CEO, John Abodeely, begins work later this month. These leadership additions reflect Oolite Arts’ commitment to fostering artistic excellence, community engagement, and creative innovation as we celebrate four decades of supporting the arts in Miami.