Internationally experienced museum leader and curator will guide Riverside Art Museum into its next chapter of growth, artistic innovation, and community engagement
RIVERSIDE, CA (August 21, 2026) — The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) has appointed Vivian Zavataro as its next Executive Director, bringing an internationally experienced museum leader, curator, and advocate for community-centered engagement to one of the Inland Empire’s leading cultural institutions.Zavataro will begin her new role October 1, 2026.
Zavataro joins Riverside Art Museum from the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, where she serves as Executive and Creative Director, leading the museum’s strategic, operational, and creative direction. Her appointment comes at an important moment for RAM, which has expanded its reach and national profile through its exhibitions, education programs, and its role as the home of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.
“The Riverside Art Museum has grown from a beloved community museum into a dynamic cultural institution with an international presence,” said Patricia Reynolds, President of RAM’s Board of Trustees. “Through our historic Julia Morgan building and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, we create opportunities for people to experience, learn from, and celebrate art that reflects the diverse stories and voices of our community. I am incredibly proud of the vision, commitment, and collaboration that have brought us to this moment, and excited about what lies ahead with Vivian as our new director.”
Reynolds said Zavataro’s combination of institutional leadership, curatorial experience, and commitment to community engagement makes her especially well suited to guide RAM through its next chapter.
At the Ulrich Museum, Zavataro oversees a permanent collection of more than 7,000 objects and a robust program of modern and contemporary exhibitions. Previously, she served as Executive Director and Chief Curator of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Her curatorial projects have included Everything Must Go: Justin Favela’s Closeout Blowout Re-Grand Opening at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Guillermo Bert: The Journey at the Nevada Museum of Art, and En Medio | Senses of Migration at the Lilley Museum of Art.
Throughout her career, Zavataro has worked closely with artists including Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Justin Favela, Guillermo Bert, Kiara Aileen Machado, and Edi Rama. Her work is grounded in the belief that museums should be welcoming, relevant, and accountable to the communities they serve.
“I am honored to join the Riverside Art Museum at such a pivotal moment,” said Zavataro. “These are places where art, community, and culture meet in ways that feel urgent and alive. I look forward to working alongside the team, board, artists, guest curators, and the broader Riverside and Inland Empire communities to expand this organization’s impact and make sure its programs reflect and celebrate the people it serves.”
Zavataro brings an international perspective to her work. She earned a Master of Arts in Heritage and Museum Studies from the University of Amsterdam and a Master of Advanced Studies in Curating from Zurich University of the Arts. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Reading, where her dissertation focuses on museum audience engagement. The Ulrich Co-Lab, an initiative that explores new ways for museums and their communities to engage with one another, serves as the core curatorial experiment for her research.
As RAM continues to evolve under Zavataro’s leadership, The Cheech will maintain its established model of working with guest curators, bringing a range of perspectives, expertise, and voices to exhibitions exploring Chicano art and culture.
“Riverside Art Museum has come a long way, and The Cheech has become a big part of that story,” said Cheech Marin. “But the best part is that we’re still building. Vivian understands artists, she understands museums, and she understands the importance of bringing people together. I’m looking forward to having her on board and seeing what the next chapter looks like.”
Zavataro will work with the museum’s staff, board, artists, guest curators, community partners, members, and supporters to build on RAM’s accomplishments and shape the institution’s future across its two locations.
About the Riverside Art Museum: The Riverside Art Museum is a community-centered cultural institution dedicated to bringing people together through art, education, and shared experiences. Through its historic Julia Morgan building and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, the museum presents exhibitions, programs, and collections that reflect the diverse stories, voices, and creative traditions of Riverside, the Inland Empire, and beyond.
