Canadian Art “Theft” in U.S.?: Beware of What Headlines Say

According to recent report in the Globe and Mail, a prominent Canadian art personality has been unceremoniously fired from a high profile U.S. based position for cause, all based on as yet unproven allegations of unauthorized pay raises. The headlines are, however, a cautionary tale about the importance in legal matters of not rushing to judgement about any individual or the organization which employed them.

In November 2025, Canada art curator Sasha Suda was reported as having initiated a legal claim against the Philadelphia Art Museum over her dismissal as its director and chief executive. Apparently Suda has been fired for cause after what she alleged was a “sham investigation” into her conduct while employed.

Ms. Suda had previously been the CEO of the National Gallery of Canada, and joined the Philadelphia institution in 2022 to much fanfare. When she took the role, she reportedly signed a five year contract at a salary of USD$720,000, apparently almost five times what she had been paid in her previous Canadian role.

In its response to Suda’s lawsuit, the Philadelphia museum claims that she was expressly advised that, absent extraordinary performance, there would be no salary increases during the contract term. In this regard, the museum noted that there were substantial budget shortfalls and extreme financial pressures in part because of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The museum claimed that Suda had, during the course of her employment, sought to receive salary increases from the employer’s compensation. Then, when these requested raises were refused, “Suda took the money anyway, defying the board and violating her contract.”

In public comments which responded to the museum’s claims, Suda’s counsel said that the employer was continuing with so-called “recycled allegations” which attempted to cover up misconduct and mistreatment of staff.

This case is an unfortunate example of the folly associated with seeking to litigate a high profile dispute in the media. If Suda is indeed correct, the details of her substantial salary and approach to seeking “still more” may well be a career-limiting move. Similarly, it would take a brave person to want to step in the role which Suda was so publicly banished from. All of these events arise at the institution made famous by boxer Rocky Balboa’s iconic triumphant run up the steps, at a site which showed America’s work ethic and sincerity at its finest. None of that appears on display any more - at this point, everyone associated with the case is presumably left in a stupor, with greed and political maneuvering providing little comfort to the employer and its former leader. Everyone seems on the mat and down for the count.