MUSCATINE, Iowa — The Muscatine Art Center will welcome a new director in August following a three-month national search to replace former director Melanie Alexander, who resigned on April 2, 2026. After a unanimous vote on July 10, the Muscatine Art Center Board of Trustees selected Kelly Lao of Rock Island, Illinois, for the position.
“Kelly accepted with enthusiasm and is looking forward to being part of our community,” said Mark Seaman, president of the Muscatine Art Center Board of Trustees. “She sparked joy, optimism, and confidence in all of us for the future of the art center.”
Lao will officially start on August 3, 2026.
Currently vice president of museum experiences at the Putnam Museum and Science Center, Lao brings extensive experience in museum leadership, community engagement and statewide arts advocacy. She serves on multiple boards and committees, including the Acquisition Committee for the Figge Art Museum, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and the Scholarship Committee of the Quad Cities Community Foundation. She is also a member of LULAC and president of the Iowa Cultural Coalition.
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Lao and her team led the reimagining and creation of seven galleries, interactive experiences and educational spaces through the recent Putnam Re-Imagined capital campaign, which included the regional history exhibit Common Ground: Our Voice Our Stories. Lao recently led the acquisition of a Triceratops, which is being excavated by community members for display in 2027.
"I am incredibly grateful for my time at the Putnam Museum,” Lao said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside such talented colleagues and a community that truly values the power of science, culture, and lifelong learning. Together, we've created meaningful experiences that inspire curiosity, foster connection, and enrich lives.”
Lao is eager to capitalize on the community enthusiasm for science, culture and art in Muscatine and expand the legacy of the Muscatine Art Center.
“As I begin this new chapter as Director of the Muscatine Art Center, I am inspired by the opportunity to build on the institution's remarkable legacy while imagining what the future can be,” Lao said. “I believe museums have the power to spark creativity, bring people together across generations and cultures, and serve as dynamic spaces where art, history, and community can intersect.”
Lao is excited to connect and work with the staff, volunteers and the community to enhance the learning experience of the Muscatine Art Center.
“I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff, supporters, volunteers, and the Muscatine community to ensure the Art Center continues to be a vibrant destination and essential resource for generations to come."
Seaman is also looking forward to the future with Lao at the helm of the Art Center.
“Kelly’s background, her passion for the arts, and her commitment to community made her stand out,” Seaman said. “We are excited for the next chapter.”
Lao holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts in museum studies from Western Illinois University. Her career includes more than a decade of leadership at the German American Heritage Center and Museum before joining the Putnam Museum in 2022.
Seaman also expressed gratitude to those involved in the search process.
“I would like to thank Stephanie Romagnoli from the City’s HR department, Vince Lawson as chair of our personnel committee, and the many volunteers who supported this effort,” Seaman said. “You all enabled us to find the very best candidate.”
