Angolan architect and independent curator Paula Nascimento has been named co-curator of the 17th Sharjah Biennial, scheduled to open in January 2027 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Partnering with Armenian curator Angela Harutyunyan, Nascimento will bring her unique perspective, shaped by her expertise in architecture, visual arts, and geopolitics, to one of the world’s most prominent contemporary art platforms. This appointment underscores the growing influence of African voices in global cultural discourse and highlights Nascimento’s role as a leading figure in curatorial practice.
Born in Luanda in 1981, Paula Nascimento has built a distinguished career that bridges architecture and curation, with a focus on postcolonial narratives and urban dynamics in the Global South. A graduate of the Architectural Association School of Architecture and London South Bank University, she has explored the intersections of space, history, and identity through groundbreaking projects. Her most notable achievement came in 2013 as co-curator of the Angola Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale, Luanda, Encyclopedic City, which won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation—the first African pavilion to receive this accolade.
Nascimento’s curatorial approach is collaborative and interdisciplinary, often addressing complex themes like migration, urbanism, and decoloniality. Through Beyond Entropy Africa, a research studio she co-founded in 2010, she examined Luanda’s urban challenges, using the city as a lens to understand broader Sub-Saharan African contexts. This work informed her contributions to major exhibitions, including the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale, the Lubumbashi Biennale (2019, 2022), Rencontres de Bamako (2017), and the Triennale di Milano (2016). Her ability to connect local realities with global conversations has made her a sought-after curator.
For Sharjah Biennial 17, Nascimento and Harutyunyan plan to create a platform for critical dialogue and artistic experimentation. Nascimento sees the biennial as a space to reimagine curatorial practices and foreground imagination as a transformative force. Their vision aligns with the Sharjah Art Foundation’s mission, led by President Hoor Al Qasimi, to commission diverse projects that respond to social, political, and temporal realities. The biennial will feature site-specific works across Sharjah, engaging audiences with innovative perspectives.
Nascimento’s current roles reflect her expansive influence. She chairs the Artistic Committee at Nesr Art Foundation, serves as a curatorial advisor to Hangar – Centre for Artistic Research in Lisbon, and is part of the acquisitions committee at CAM – Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian. Since 2019, she has curated the African Galleries at Arco Lisboa, amplifying African artists in global markets. Recent projects like the digital platform Are You For Real (commissioned by ifa) and the Rhizomes exhibition for Saison Africa 2020 showcase her commitment to transnational collaboration.
Nascimento’s appointment to Sharjah Biennial 17 is a milestone for African representation in international curation. Her work challenges conventional frameworks, offering nuanced insights into the complexities of contemporary life. As she prepares to shape this global event, Nascimento continues to elevate Angola and the African continent, fostering dialogues that resonate across borders.
For more information on Sharjah Biennial 17, visit the Sharjah Art Foundation’s website.
