Accused of Harassing Staff, Martha Ortiz Steps Down as Director of Bogotá’s MAMBO
13May 2, 2026
Martha Ortiz, the director of theMuseo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá(MAMBO), has left her role amid allegations that she harassed museum employees and created a toxic environment at the institution. The museum in a statement said that Ortiz was retiring and that it would begin a search for a successor. Until one is found, MAMBO board president Ángela Royo will handle strategic decisions, while Francy Hernández, the museum’s financial and administrative manager will oversee administrative processes.
Ortiz assumed directorship of MAMBO in March 2024, arriving from the field of journalism and media, with no experience in museum management. News of her departure comes less than three months after theoustingofEugenio Viola, who had served as the institution’s artistic director and chief curator for seven years. Viola said at the time that his exit “followed my decision to raise concerns with the board in September 2025 regarding the progressive deterioration of working conditions—concerns shared by several team members. Instead of conducting an internal review, the board dismissed these issues and terminated my contract.”
As news of Viola’s dismissal circulated, more than 140 artists, curators, museum directors, and cultural workers signed an open letter calling for a “public, clear and well-reasoned” explanation for his firing. The museum on its website claimed to maintain “open and transparent communication with all its stakeholders” and explained that Viola’s departure came after “a process of sustained discussions” with him regarding curatorial operations and budget and that his contract was terminated when no agreement was arrived at. The museum published an email address to which queries could be sent; the Art Newspaper reports that messages sent to that address bounced back.
Viola told the publication that he “formally alerted the board as early as the end of September 2025 to deteriorating working conditions and broader structural issues affecting the museum,” but that his warnings went unheeded at the time. “The board’s decision to remove Martha Ortiz is a necessary—yet markedly delayed—measure,” he said. “Had it been taken in time, it could have prevented much of the institutional erosion observed in recent months.”