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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Philip Oltermann and Lanre Bakare

Koyo Kouoh, art curator due to lead 2026 Venice Biennale, dies at 57

Koyo Kouoh poses for a picture seated in front of paintings
Koyo Kouoh was the executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. Photograph: Mirjam Kluka

Koyo Kouoh, the groundbreaking Swiss-Cameroonian curator who was to become the first African woman to head up the Venice Biennale, died suddenly on Saturday, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa announced.

“It is with profound sorrow that the trustees of Zeitz MOCAA announce the sudden passing of Koyo Kouoh, our beloved executive director and chief curator, on Saturday, 10 May 2025,” said the museum in a statement on Monday.

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