In early December last year, it was announced that Koyo Kouoh would be responsible for organizing the 61st edition of the art event Biennial, scheduled for 2026.
“Her passing leaves a tremendous void in the world of contemporary art and the international community of artists, curators, and experts, who admired her extraordinary intellectual and human dedication,” the Biennial stated.
Koyo Kouoh was especially renowned for her exhibitions focused on feminism and her attention to the African continent.
Five months ago, the Venice Biennial announced that her appointment represented “the recognition of a broader horizon and the emergence of a generous day of new words and perspectives.”
Born in 1967 in Cameroon and raised in Switzerland, Kouoh was a distinguished artist on the African and international stage, with numerous publications and exhibitions in major cities and museums worldwide.
Since 2019, she served as the executive director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town, South Africa, and in 2020, she received the Grand Prix ‘Meret Oppenheim,’ organized by Switzerland.
The Venice Biennial is one of the most significant artistic events, divided into sectors: in 2025, its focus will be Architecture, directed by Italian engineer Carlo Ratti, and in 2026, it will be dedicated to Art.
