Visionary Art Curator Koyo Kouoh Dies at 57—Leaving a Lasting Legacy in African Art
(Source: BBC, with additional insights)
Koyo Kouoh, one of the most influential figures in the global art world, has passed away at the age of 57. As reported by the BBC, her death comes at the height of her groundbreaking career, leaving the art community in mourning.
Born in Cameroon, Kouoh was a fierce champion of African artists and was set to make history as the first African woman to lead the Venice Biennale in 2024—one of the most prestigious art events in the world. At the time of her death, she was also leading Cape Town’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), the continent’s largest modern art museum.
A Life Dedicated to Art and Change
As the BBC highlighted, Kouoh’s journey was anything but ordinary. After studying banking in Switzerland, she chose art over finance, saying, “I am fundamentally uninterested in profit.” Instead, she worked with migrant women before diving into the art scene, eventually founding Raw Material Company, a major art center in Dakar, Senegal.
Friends and colleagues, including South African artist Candice Breitz, remembered her as “magnificently intelligent, endlessly energetic, and formidably elegant.” Nigerian artist Otobong Nkanga praised her warmth and generosity, calling her a guiding light for African creatives.
Saving Zeitz MOCAA and Shaping African Art
When Kouoh took over Zeitz MOCAA in 2019, the museum was struggling after a leadership scandal. As the BBC reported, she turned it around, ensuring its survival through the pandemic and elevating its global reputation. “If Zeitz had failed, it would’ve been a failure for all African art professionals,” she once said.
Under her direction, the museum hosted groundbreaking exhibitions like “When We See Us,” a major showcase of Black artists’ work over the past century, now showing in Brussels.
A Belief Beyond Death
In a striking interview with the Financial Times just last week, Kouoh shared her unique perspective on life and death: “I believe in energies—living or dead. There’s no ‘after death’ or ‘before life.’ It’s all connected.” These words now carry even deeper meaning.
The Art World Reacts
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called her death “a void in contemporary art,” while Zeitz MOCAA announced it would close temporarily in her honor. The cause of her sudden passing has not yet been revealed.
Why This Matters
Koyo Kouoh wasn’t just a curator—she was a force who reshaped how the world sees African art. As the BBC’s coverage shows, her legacy will live on through the artists she supported and the institutions she transformed.
For more details, visit BBC News.