Koyo Kouoh, a celebrated Cameroonian curator and art scholar, has been named the artistic director of the 2026 Venice Biennale, becoming the first African woman to lead one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions.
Kouoh, 57, currently serves as the Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, a position she has held since 2019. The Biennale, a 130-year-old institution, draws hundreds of thousands of art enthusiasts to Venice every two years.
Describing her appointment as a “once-in-a-lifetime honor,” Kouoh expressed her vision for the upcoming biennale: “I hope to create a show that carries meaning for the world we currently live in—and most importantly, for the world we want to make.”
Kouoh is widely recognized for her efforts to elevate African art on the global stage. Before joining Zeitz MOCAA, she founded the RAW Material Company in Dakar, Senegal, a space dedicated to art, knowledge, and society. Her career has been shaped by a Pan-Africanist philosophy that transcends borders and highlights the interconnectedness of African and diasporic cultures.
“Africa, for me, is an idea that goes beyond borders. It’s a history that goes beyond borders,” she said in a 2023 interview. She further emphasized the influence of the African diaspora, noting that “the African diasporic influence in the U.S. is undeniable… I like to talk about Black geographies, more than African diasporas.”
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Venice Biennale, praised Kouoh as a “curator, scholar, and influential public figure” whose leadership would bring innovative perspectives to the exhibition. “She will bring the most refined, young, and disruptive intelligences to the Biennale,” he stated.
Kouoh follows in the footsteps of the late Nigerian art critic Okwui Enwezor, who became the first African to lead the Biennale in 2015.
Kouoh’s work at Zeitz MOCAA has been marked by daring and innovative exhibitions that explore African and diasporic identities. Her appointment signals a growing recognition of the importance of African perspectives in the global art scene.
The Venice Biennale has long been a platform for groundbreaking artistic expression, and Kouoh’s leadership is expected to set a new benchmark for diversity and creativity. As she prepares for the 2026 edition, the art world eagerly anticipates her vision for this historic event.
