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2w ago

Trailblazing Curator Koyo Kouoh Dies Suddenly at 57

The art world mourns the loss of the first African woman to lead the Venice Biennale, leaving uncertainty around the 2026 exhibition theme announcement.

The Venice Biennale said it was 'deeply saddened and dismayed' to learn of Kouoh's 'sudden and untimely passing'
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Overview

  • Koyo Kouoh, a Cameroonian curator and executive director of Zeitz MOCAA since 2019, passed away suddenly on May 10, 2025.
  • Kouoh made history in 2024 as the first African woman appointed to curate the prestigious Venice Biennale, set for 2026.
  • She was scheduled to unveil the 2026 Biennale's title and theme on May 20, 2025, a milestone now cast into uncertainty following her death.
  • Celebrated for her Pan-African advocacy, Kouoh elevated African and diaspora artists, shaping global contemporary art discourse.
  • Leaders and institutions, including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Venice Biennale, expressed profound sorrow over her untimely passing.