ROME (AP) 鈥� Koyo Kouoh, the curator of the has died at age 58, her home institution in South Africa said in an Instagram post Saturday.
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in South Africa confirmed her passing overnight but gave no cause of death. The Biennale said Saturday it was 鈥渄eeply saddened and dismayed鈥� to learn of her death.
Kouoh was the first African woman tapped to helm the Venice Biennale. Born in Cameroon in 1967, she was tapped to curate the 2026 edition of the Biennale in December. A leading figure in promoting Pan-Africanism throughout the art world, Kouoh had been executive director and chief curator at Zeitz since 2019.
Appointed in December 2024 by the board of directors of La Biennale, Kouoh worked 鈥渨ith passion, intellectual rigor and vision on the conception and development of the Biennale Arte 2026,鈥� the Venice arts institution said.
The presentation of the exhibition鈥檚 title and theme was due to take place in Venice on May 20.
鈥淗er passing leaves an immense void in the world of contemporary art and in the international community of artists, curators, and scholars who had the privilege of knowing and admiring her extraordinary human and intellectual commitment,鈥� the Biennale said.
It extended 鈥渋ts deepest sympathies and affection鈥� to Kouoh鈥檚 family and friends, and 鈥渁ll those who shared with her a journey of research and critical thought on contemporary art.鈥�
In a statement, Italy鈥檚 Premier Giorgia Meloni on Saturday expressed her 鈥渄eepest condolences鈥� for Kouoh鈥檚 鈥減remature and sudden passing,鈥� noting it 鈥渓eaves a void in the world of contemporary art.鈥�
The Associated Press
