Meet Marisa Sage

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marisa Sage. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Marisa , appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

I think I was born with it! As a kid, my self-discipline showed up in gymnastics and caring for animals. I started training seriously as a gymnast at age 7 and became a vegetarian at 9 (and I still am at 46). Over time, my passions have shifted, but that self-discipline has always stayed with me. For me, self-discipline and passion go hand in hand.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the Director and Head Curator of the New Mexico State University Art Museum (NMSU, UAM) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. As a curator, I have a passion for emerging contemporary art and artists, and have built a career defined by ambitious exhibitions, innovative programming, and a commitment to community engagement. Over the past 20 years, I have planned and executed more than 100 international exhibitions featuring over 200 artists worldwide.

Here at NMSU, I have curated groundbreaking exhibitions including Off the Wall, a two-part show tracing Sol LeWitt’s relationship with NMSU and his influence on new generations of artists; GEOMAGIC: Art, Science, and the Zuhl Collection, supported by a National Endowment for the Arts grant this exhibition paired contemporary sculptures materializing geological time with actual geological specimens; and currently I am working with the artist Jennifer Ling Datchuk’s on her exhibition RIPENING, which explores feminist art history, mothering, labor and social justice through immersive, interdisciplinary practices. Under my leadership, the UAM has expanded its impact by fostering sustainability in exhibition production and spearheading fundraising initiatives to support equitable pay and environmentally responsible practices.

At my educational museum, my curatorial vision emphasizes accessibility, dialogue, and inclusivity, ensuring that both on- and off-campus communities are deeply engaged in UAM’s programming. Prior to NMSU, I served as Director of the Rema Hort Mann Foundation in New York and as Galleries Manager for Salisbury University Art Galleries in Maryland. Earlier in my career, I founded Like the Spice Gallery, a pioneering contemporary art gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which hosted over 65 exhibitions between 2006 and 2012.

As a New York native, I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Syracuse University and a Master of Digital Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey are passion, adaptability, and relationship-building.

Passion has fueled everything I do—it’s what gave me the stamina to push through challenges and stay committed to long-term projects, artists and the arts, and to my personal core values. Passion isn’t just a spark; it’s something you strengthen over time by setting meaningful goals, showing up consistently, and holding yourself and other accountable to what you believe in.

Adaptability has been essential in the arts, where resources, contexts, and community needs are always shifting. Staying flexible while keeping the larger vision intact has allowed me to say “yes” to unexpected opportunities and navigate change in a way that often led to incredible experiences and and people! I could have only had one vision when I opened my gallery in 2006, but because I was open and adaptable, my gallery led me back to higher ed art museums–where I have been since 2012.

Relationship-building—especially with artists and communities—has been the most transformative. Collaboration is at the heart of my work: listening deeply to artists’ visions, co-creating meaningful dialogue with audiences, and ensuring that communities feel reflected and included. These relationships make the work sustainable, resonant, and alive.

My advice is to approach these not as fixed qualities, but as practices, we are all trying our best. Keep fueling your passion, welcome change, and invest in authentic connections with artists and communities—you’ll find that’s where the most impactful and lasting work begins.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

When I struggled with math in high school, my father went to my teacher to see how he could help. The teacher told him that while I was one of the hardest workers, advanced algebra just wasn’t clicking for me. Together, they came up with a plan that allowed me to take extra art and music classes instead. That choice not only raised my grades and helped me get into phenomenal art colleges, but also gave me the chance to develop new creative skills and confidence in what I loved.

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to always believe in me without trying to shape me into their version of success. They met me where I was, encouraged my strengths, and helped me learn how to define and build success on my own terms. They never tried to make me into something I wasn’t—they simply helped me be me, in the best way I could be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marisasage.com and https://uam.nmsu.edu
• Instagram: likethespice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisasage/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-sage-67556a8/

Image Credits

All images of artists, students, staff, and curators courtesy of University Art Museum at NMSU. Installation Images by Byron Flesher, courtesy of University Art Museum at NMSU.