Judith Thomas is the deputy director of the museum at PAFA. Working closely with PAFA’s president & CEO, she oversees all aspects of museum operations. Thomas has a long history with PAFA and was previously the director of exhibitions. Major projects managed include the recent reinstallation of PAFA’s Historic Landmark Building and launch of the exhibition A Nation of Artists as well as the multivenue exhibitions Rina Banerjee: Make Me a Summary of the World, Procession: The Art of Norman Lewis, World War I and American Art, and The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887-1920, among many others. As director of special initiatives, Thomas led successful accreditation processes for both PAFA’s museum and school.

Thomas has served in various senior leadership roles in both the arts and other sectors. Most recently she was deputy director at Brandywine Workshop and Archives and prior to that, chief of staff at Philadelphia Contemporary as well as adjunct faculty in the art department at Immaculata University. Thomas has also held positions in the tech and legal fields. She is a graduate of University College London, UK, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 

Meet the PAFA Leadership Team