Art world mourns loss of Zeitz MOCAA director

The art world is mourning the passing of Koyo Kouoh, the executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA).

Kouoh passed away on Saturday, May 10. Her death was confirmed by the museum, which closed its doors early on the day as a mark of respect.

In a statement shared via Facebook, the museum wrote: "It is with profound sorrow that the trustees of the Zeitz MOCAA received news in the early hours of this morning of the sudden passing of Koyo Kouoh, our beloved executive director and chief curator. Out of respect, Zeitz MOCAA will close its doors today, and all programming will be suspended until further notice. Our thoughts are with Koyo’s family at this time."

Born and raised in Cameroon, Kouoh moved to Switzerland as a teenager and later emerged as a powerful force in the global art world. 

She was appointed curator of the 2026 Venice Art Biennale, a prestigious role that underscored her influence and impact on the international art scene. The announcement was highlighted on the official Instagram page of the Venice Art Biennale.