Martin Friedman (1961-90)

Challenge: Turning a private, regional art museum into an internationally renowned center that embraces the performing arts and cinema.

Accomplishments: Enlisted architect Edward Larrabee Barnes for a new modernist building that opened in 1971. Created the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in 1988. Acquired works by the likes of Marcel Duchamp, Isamu Noguchi, Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt, Robert Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman and the iconic "Spoonbridge and Cherry."

Kathy Halbreich (1991-2007)

Challenge: Expanding on Friedman's vision while diversifying and growing the Walker's audience.

Accomplishments: Doubled the Walker's physical space with a 2005 addition by Herzog & de Meuron that includes a 385-seat theater. Grew the Walker's collection from 6,100 to 10,000 pieces while presenting major exhibitions featuring Chantal Akerman, Joseph Beuys, Bruce Nauman, Kara Walker and many more.

Olga Viso (2008-17)

Challenge: Fixing shortcomings of the Walker's physical space while reflecting society's increasing multiculturalism.

Accomplishments: Completed a $41 million campus renovation that integrates the Guthrie Theater's old hillside site with a reconstructed Sculpture Garden and a new entrance on Vineland Place. Bought the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's collection and turned it into the blockbuster exhibit "Common Time." Presented more art by women and people of color while diversifying the Walker's collection.

Walker Art Center director Olga Viso was photographed Monday morning at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Walker Art Center director Olga Viso set herself a big task with the renovation of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden that opens this week. Her aim is to bring coherence and more visitors -- to the Walker’s sprawling campus, while also connecting it with downtown Minneapolis as part of a long-envisioned cultural corridor. It’s a civic planning feat, one that Viso has led through years of innumerable meetings with artists, architects, downtown bureaucrats and the Minneapolis Park Board, which owns the land on which the art sits. The garden has become Viso’s signature project, one she launched soon after her arrival in 2008. The end result, which will be unveiled Saturday, June 3, will be closely eyed around the country: the garden has inspired others since its opening in 1988; Seattle and Chicago sent delegations to study the garden’s partnership between art center and city. We photograph Viso on Monday, May 22, 2017 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.