Chase W. Rynd

President and Executive Director

Chase Rynd, a nationally recognized leader in the museum and arts communities, assumed the position of President of the National Building Museum in September 2003. Created by Congress in 1980, the National Building Museum, a private, nonprofit institution, commemorates American achievements in architecture, design, construction, urban planning, and engineering, and encourages excellence in the building arts.

Rynd earned his bachelor’s degree and did graduate work in international economics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He joined Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust in New York following his studies and worked in financial analysis and portfolio management for five years. He then moved to Seattle and joined a private investment firm.

Rynd studied architectural photography in Seattle with the idea of developing a photographic survey of the city’s buildings for publication. That study, while not resulting in the planned publication, led Rynd to open his own gallery, an effort that combined his lifelong love of art and his background in management and finance. His Equivalents Gallery programmed more than 90 exhibitions in its eight years. During that time, he served as the U.S. representative for 25 international artists, and he consulted for a number of museums, private collectors and major corporations. Appointed by Seattle’s mayor to the Seattle Arts Commission in 1988, Rynd went on to serve two consecutive terms as chairman.

In 1990, Security Pacific Bank recruited Rynd to develop a public gallery space that would serve the community with a variety of activities and programs to enhance the city’s arts environment. His work resulted in the first major, non-commercial, contemporary art gallery in the Pacific Northwest.

The Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) selected Rynd as its Executive Director and CEO in 1993. While at TAM, Rynd and his staff presented a number of ambitious exhibitions, including Ceramics from the Marina Picasso Collection, consisting of 61 pieces originally in Picasso’s private collection; an exhibition of contemporary Asian art; and La Frontera/The Border, works made near and about the Mexican/American border. Rynd also was instrumental in the museum’s campaign to build its new $25 million facility — designed by architect Antoine Predock and recently opened to excellent reviews. In addition, he developed a variety of art education programs and enhanced their fundraising by 125% over six years.

In 1998, Rynd was appointed founding Executive Director and CEO of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. He guided the establishment of this acclaimed arts center and directed its overall operations, including hiring the entire staff, overseeing the design and renovation of its historic building, and procuring world-class exhibitions from prestigious museums. During his tenure, the Frist gained national recognition and public praise, developed a diverse membership base, attracted local and national corporate sponsorships, and established strong partnership with national and international cultural organizations.

Active in the museum community, Rynd is a member of the: International Council of Museums; American Association of Museums; Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, American Friends of Chantilly, and American Federation of Arts. He also is a member of ACE Mentor Program, National Board of Directors.