koyo kouoh foundation launches to carry forward the late curator’s legacy

koyo kouoh foundation continues the late curator’s vision

A new foundation established in memory of late curator and cultural thinker Koyo Kouoh seeks to preserve and expand the intellectual, curatorial, and institutional legacy she built across Africa and beyond. Based in Basel, Switzerland, the Koyo Kouoh Foundation positions itself as a platform for future generations of artists, curators, and cultural practitioners, continuing the late curator’s commitment to critical thought, artistic discourse, and long-term cultural infrastructure. The announcement arrives as the art world continues to reflect on Kouoh’s enduring influence following her appointment as curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, titled In Minor Keys.

all portraits of Koyo Kouoh by Mirjam Kluka, unless stated otherwise

building structures beyond exhibitions

The foundation emphasizes Kouoh’s broader role as an institution builder and cultural strategist. The platform traces her trajectory from Douala to Dakar, where she founded RAW Material Company in 2008 as a space for research, curatorial experimentation, residencies, and collective learning outside formal academic systems. Described as a laboratory, school, and platform for exchange, RAW became central to Kouoh’s belief that art and knowledge production are inseparable processes rooted in continuity and dialogue.

The foundation identifies RAW Material Company as one of the clearest expressions of Kouoh’s intellectual and political legacy, noting that supporting the foundation will also contribute directly to the continued life of the Dakar institution. Alongside RAW, the platform revisits her formative role in shaping the Forum program of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, co-founding Partcours Dakar, and expanding the international reach of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa during her tenure as executive director and chief curator beginning in 2019.

the foundation seeks to preserve and expand legacy Koyo Kouoh built

from black figuration to venice art biennale 2026

Among the projects highlighted by the foundation is When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, the landmark exhibition curated by Kouoh alongside Tandazani Dhlakama. First presented at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, the exhibition brought together a century of Black figuration across generations and geographies, foregrounding themes of self-representation, intimacy, memory, and beauty. As the exhibition traveled internationally to cities including Basel, Brussels, and Stockholm, it became emblematic of Kouoh’s ability to create historically grounded yet globally resonant frameworks.

The foundation also positions In Minor Keys, the 2026 Venice Art Biennale exhibition, as a continuation of her expansive curatorial vision. Describing the appointment as a ‘defining moment in the broader landscape of contemporary art,’ the foundation frames Kouoh’s biennale as a rethinking of how contemporary art is experienced and discussed across cultures and histories.

continuing the late curator’s commitment to critical thought and long-term cultural infrastructure

a board spanning art, curating, and cultural strategy

The foundation’s board brings together figures from curating, publishing, finance, and the arts, including Swiss saxophonist and composer Philippe Mall as president, cultural strategist Michèle Sandoz as vice president, curator Josef Helfenstein, Adrienne Edwards, curator and writer Kate Fowle, artist Alfredo Jaar, and banker and arts patron Cathia Lawson-Hall. An advisory board is expected to be announced in the future.

Across the platform, Kouoh’s oft-cited statement, ‘You have to set up your own house and build your own home as opposed to trying to get into someone else’s castle,’ appears as a guiding philosophy for the foundation’s future direction. Through archives, institutional support, publishing, discourse, and future initiatives yet to be announced, the foundation seeks to continue building the structures she believed artists and thinkers need in order to endure.

emphasizing Kouoh’s broader role as an institution builder and cultural strategist