It wasn’t easy to make Bentonville, Arkansas, a destination for culture, but former TV journalist Olivia Walton—who took over as board chair of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art from founder Alice Walton (her husband’s aunt) in 2021—has helped do just that.
What do you want to see more of in your industry? Less of?
More respect for mass audiences. Less cultural elitism. Who gets to decide what art is? Is a quilt not as worthy as a canvas? We want to be a big tent, where art can take many forms. We’re not an institution for art insiders. We actively welcome folks from all walks of life, of varied ages and beliefs.
What keeps you up at night?
Misinformation. More and more, facts and opinions get confused for one another—and the consequences are pernicious. When we lose a shared sense of what’s true, we lose the ability to solve problems together.
What do you think is your biggest contribution to culture?
Crystal Bridges is pushing the entire field to think more expansively about access. From the beginning, we’ve had free admission but now you see that idea catching on across the country. The results are incredible: younger, more diverse audiences connecting with programming and collections in new ways.
What’s one work of art that got you through an important moment in your life?
Katharine Graham’s Pulitzer Prize–winning memoir, Personal History, helped me persevere through some tough years in my early career. In the face of heavy self-doubt, she summoned the strength to push through personal and professional crises and stand up to Nixon. Her grit, curiosity, and courage were all extraordinary.
What would you wear to meet your greatest enemy?
Shoulder pads and stilettos.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Crystal Bridges’ expansion opening in May! We’re doubling our public space and reimagining how art museums can serve the community. (We’re also celebrating our 15th anniversary alongside America’s 250th birthday.) I’ll be moderating our “Building Bridges” conversation series, where we bring extraordinary minds from across the political spectrum to discuss the power of art and the American spirit. President Obama was our first guest. Ken Burns is next, and Justice Barrett will join us later this year.
When you were little, what were you known for?
Having food on my face.
What question do you ask yourself most often while you’re making work?
What’s the other side of the story?
Where do you feel most at home?
Curled up with our kids and dog (Snacks), reading bedtime stories, at home in Bentonville.
What grounds you, and what invigorates you?
Nature.
To read more from the 2026 CULT100 honorees, see the full list here.
in your life?
