The Philadelphia Art Museum’s board of trustees dismissed former director and chief executive Sasha Suda last week, three years into her five-year contract. Suda is now suing the institution for terminating her employment ‘without a valid basis’.
Suda filed the lawsuit in the Pennsylvania State Court on Monday, the New York Times reported. The lawsuit claims that ‘a corrupt and unethical faction’ of the board attempted to portray Suda as misusing museum funds. According to the lawsuit, a group of trustees allegedly hired a law firm to investigate her compensation and expenses, which had already been approved by the head of audit. The investigation did not find evidence of misconduct but did portray Suda ‘as financially irresponsible’ and recommended she resign.
A 2024 tax return shows that Suda’s total compensation in 2023 was around $760,000. She is seeking two years’ severance, as well as damages.
Luke Nikas, Suda’s lawyer, said in a statement that ‘a small cabal of trustees commissioned a sham investigation to create a pretext for Ms. Suda’s termination. Ms. Suda fought for and believed in a museum that would serve Philadelphia and its people, not the egos of a handful of trustees.’
A group of trustees who spoke anonymously to the New York Times claimed that Suda’s dismissal was the result of a power struggle between the former director and board leaders who believed she was too inexperienced for the job.
Sasha Suda joined the Philadelphia Art Museum in 2022, having previously been the youngest director and chief executive at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
Read next the 10 exhibitions to see in November 2025
