The Ringling

Steven High, executive director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, has announced he will retire after 15 years leading the Sarasota museum complex governed by Florida State University.

High has served as executive director since 2011, overseeing a period of significant growth in collections, educational programming, attendance, fundraising and campus expansion at The Ringling, which serves as Florida’s State Art Museum under the stewardship of Florida State University. He will remain in the position until his successor is identified.

High said serving as executive director of The Ringling has been the highlight of his career and credited the museum’s growth to the work of its staff, foundation board, university leadership and community supporters.

FSU's Ringling Museum of Art Executive Director Steven High to retire Steven High, executive director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, has announced he will retire after 15 years leading the Sarasota museum High has served as executive director since 2011, overseeing a period of significant growth in collections, educational programming, attendance, fundr...

These illustrious rooms feature two extremely rare surviving examples of intact Gilded Age room decoration: the Salon (Gallery 19) and Library (Gallery 20) from the Astor Mansion in New York City, built by prominent socialite Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and her son John Jacob Astor IV. When the home was demolished in 1926, John Ringling bought the interiors and shipped them to Sarasota to be fitted into his new museum. ✨

Throwing it back to 1942! Clowns Lou Jacobs and Felix Adler pose in costume with ballet dancer Patty Warfield. 🤡🩰

📸 From the Dr. Robert "Bob" Pierce Harris Photograph Collection

Andrea Carlson: A Constant Sky
Opening Soon! May 30 – Nov 15

A Constant Sky is the first museum survey of mixed-media visual artist Andrea Carlson (descended from Grand Portage Ojibwe and European settlers, b. 1979). Carlson creates works that challenge the colonial narratives presented by modern artists, museum collections, and cannibal genre horror films.

Learn more: https://www.ringling.org/event/andrea-carlson-a-constant-sky/

◆ Andrea Carlson: A Constant Sky is organized by the Denver Art Museum. It is presented with generous support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Christensen Fund. The Ringling’s presentation is generously supported by a grant from Teiger Foundation.

◆ Image: Andrea Carlson, Exit, 2018. Edition of 20. 21-layer screenprint on White Coventry Rag paper; 34 ½ x 47 ¾ in. Published by Highpoint Editions, Minneapolis. Collection of the artist. © 2018 Andrea Carlson, courtesy of the artist and Highpoint Editions.

In bloom 💕

The Ringling’s first director, A. Everett “Chick” Austin, Jr., believed in the importance of the performing arts, establishing The Ringling’s commitment to live performance. In 1952, the Historic Asolo Theater, originally built in 1798 in Asolo, Italy, was reassembled in Sarasota, providing a dedicated venue at The Ringling for the performing arts.

The 2026/27 Art of Performance Subscription Series + Season Kick Off Event go on sale May 18! 🎭