Naomi Beckwith Outlines Vision as Artistic Director for documenta 16

The Guggenheim curator emphasizes respect, collaboration, and a zero-tolerance policy for violence as she prepares to lead the 2027 exhibition in Kassel.

• Naomi Beckwith, currently the Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Guggenheim Museum, has been appointed as artistic director for documenta 16, scheduled for June 12 to September 19, 2027, in Kassel, Germany.
• Beckwith’s curatorial approach focuses on fostering respect, dialogue, and transnational collaboration, with an emphasis on diversity as a strength in contemporary art.
• She has publicly committed to a zero-tolerance policy for physical, verbal, or symbolic violence, addressing the legacy of the antisemitism scandal that overshadowed documenta 15 in 2022.
• The 2022 controversy involved the removal of artworks with antisemitic imagery and criticism of the previous curatorial team, Ruangrupa, for alleged ties to the BDS movement.
• Local leaders, including Hessen’s Minister of Culture and Kassel’s Mayor, have expressed strong support for Beckwith’s leadership and vision to restore documenta’s global reputation.

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