Koyo Kouoh, Curator of 2026 Venice Biennale, Dies at 57

Koyo Kouoh, a well-known curator who was widely admired for changing global views on modern African art, tragically passed away suddenly at the age of 57 after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

In December 2024, Kouoh was appointed as the curator for the 2026 Venice Biennale, marking her as the first African woman to hold this position. Sadly, she passed away only a few months following this significant announcement. The organizers of the Biennale expressed their tribute by stating, “Her departure has left a profound gap in the realm of contemporary art.

Growing up in Douala, Cameroon in 1967, I embarked on an unexpected journey into the realm of art. My trajectory took an unconventional turn when, as a teenager, I moved to Switzerland and focused on business and banking studies. However, my career path took a significant shift towards social work, where I provided aid to migrant women. This experience further fueled my passion for cultural expression and social transformation, ultimately leading me to the arts.

After departing from Europe, Kouoh established Dakar, Senegal as her permanent residence in 2008. It was there she founded the Raw Material Company, an innovative artistic residency, gallery, and academy dedicated to nurturing West African creativity with a unique regional perspective. Lately, the RAW team has praised Kouoh as “an influential figure, radiating warmth, generosity, and intelligence who consistently prioritized people over possessions.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express the profound influence Kouoh has cast, resonating far beyond our continent. In the vibrant city of Cape Town, in 2019, she seized the reins at Zeitz MOCAA as both Executive Director and Chief Curator, steering the museum towards a rejuvenated path. Throughout her remarkable career, she’s left indelible marks on significant international art platforms such as Documenta, the Carnegie International, and the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Her groundbreaking exhibition, When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, continues to captivate audiences at its current home in Brussels.

Unyielding in her commitment to cultivate the organizations she established and amplify African perspectives in international discussions, her influence resonates profoundly throughout the artistic tapestry of the past, present, and future.

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