Overview

• Koyo Kouoh, appointed in December 2024 as curator of the 61st Venice Art Biennale, died unexpectedly on May 10, 2025, at the age of 58.
• Her appointment was a milestone, marking the first time an African woman was selected to lead the prestigious exhibition.
• The Biennale board and Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli expressed profound sorrow and highlighted her immense contributions to contemporary art.
• Kouoh's curatorial vision for the 2026 Biennale remains incomplete, with the board now tasked with selecting a successor to preserve her thematic direction.
• An internationally celebrated curator, Kouoh was known for championing contemporary African art through exhibitions and publications, including her leadership at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.