In a historic move, Koyo Kouoh, the executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, has been appointed as the curator for the 61st edition of the Venice Biennale, set to take place in 2026. This appointment marks a significant milestone not only for Kouoh but for the Biennale itself, as she becomes the first African woman to ever hold this prestigious role, following in the footsteps of the late Nigerian art critic Okwui Enwezor, who curated the 2015 edition.
Kouoh’s appointment, confirmed by La Biennale di Venezia’s Board on November 5, 2024, comes at a time when the art world is brimming with anticipation over the direction of the renowned exhibition. Her visionary approach, coupled with her extensive experience in promoting contemporary African art globally, positions her to bring a fresh and thought-provoking perspective to the Biennale.
A Curatorial Legacy Rooted in African Art
Born in Cameroon in 1967 and now residing between Cape Town, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; and Basel, Switzerland, Kouoh has long been a leading voice in the global art scene. Since taking the helm of Zeitz MOCAA in 2019, she has been instrumental in elevating African contemporary art, with exhibitions like When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting (2022) — the largest survey of Black self-representation in painting to date. She has also curated solo exhibitions for renowned artists such as Tracey Rose, Otobong Nkanga, and Abdoulaye Konaté, further cementing her role as a pivotal figure in the art world.
Before her tenure at Zeitz MOCAA, Kouoh was the founding artistic director of RAW Material Company, an influential art center in Dakar, Senegal, dedicated to the intersection of art, knowledge, and society. Her curatorial career also includes contributions to documenta 12 (2007) and documenta 13 (2012), two of the most significant exhibitions in contemporary art history. Kouoh’s commitment to deep, research-driven exhibitions is evident in her work on the groundbreaking Saving Bruce Lee: African and Arab Cinema in the Era of Soviet Cultural Diplomacy, which she co-curated at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow and Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin.
Reflecting on the Role
In her statement following the announcement, Kouoh expressed her profound respect for the legacy of the Venice Biennale, which she called “mythical.” She also acknowledged the immense responsibility of curating an event that has been at the heart of global art for over a century. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime honor and privilege to follow in the footsteps of luminary predecessors in the role of Artistic Director,” Kouoh said. “I hope to compose an exhibition that carries meaning for the world we currently live in—and most importantly, for the world we want to make. Artists are the visionaries and social scientists who allow us to reflect and project in ways afforded only to this line of work.”
A Vision for the Future
While the appointment of Kouoh has been widely celebrated for breaking new ground, it also stands as a powerful statement against those who had speculated that the Biennale would veer toward a more nationalistic or conservative direction under the leadership of Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the new president of La Biennale di Venezia. Buttafuoco, a controversial figure known for his right-wing views and ties to Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has faced criticism for his appointment, but Kouoh’s selection reflects the Biennale’s commitment to maintaining its role as an inclusive, forward-thinking platform for contemporary art.
Buttafuoco himself has praised Kouoh’s appointment, emphasizing the “broad horizon of vision” she brings to the role. “Her perspective as a curator, scholar, and influential public figure meets with the most refined, young, and disruptive intelligences,” he stated. “With her here in Venice, La Biennale confirms what it has offered the world for over a century: to be the home of the future.”
A Legacy of Thoughtful Curatorial Work
Throughout her career, Kouoh has been a champion of African and diaspora artists, using her curatorial platform to explore complex themes such as identity, representation, and global geopolitics. Her work as curator of the 37th EVA International Biennial in Ireland (2016), Body Talk: Feminism, Sexuality and the Body in the Works of Six African Women Artists (2015), and her participation in the 57th Carnegie International (2018) all highlight her ability to foster cross-cultural dialogue and create exhibitions that are both timely and timeless.
Kouoh has also produced a wealth of written scholarship that addresses the intersections of art, culture, and politics. Her books, including When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting (2022), Shooting Down Babylon: The Work of Tracey Rose (2022), and Condition Report on Art History in Africa (2020), are essential contributions to the discourse surrounding African contemporary art and its global positioning.
Looking Ahead
As the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale, Kouoh’s appointment is not only a monumental personal achievement but also a symbolic moment in the ongoing evolution of the art world. Her leadership promises to shape the 2026 edition of the Biennale into an exhibition that addresses the pressing issues of our time while honoring the creative legacy of the past.
The world will be watching as Koyo Kouoh prepares to curate this landmark event, bringing her distinctive voice to one of the most prestigious platforms for contemporary art. As she continues to champion African art and artists on the global stage, her role as the curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale is poised to set a new standard for curatorial excellence and inclusivity in the art world.
