New Venice Installation Honors Koyo Kouoh, the Late Biennale Curator

Summary

• A large-scale portrait of Koyo Kouoh by Derrick Adams is currently being showcased along the Rio della Tana in Venice
• On view through September 24, the installation captures Kouoh’s radiant likeness and leading voice in the art world

We’re just a few days from the 2026 Biennale and a monumental public portrait of the late curator Koyo Kouoh has appeared alongside the Rio della Tana in Venice. Created by American artist Derrick Adams, the installation honors her hand in both the upcoming edition and the indelible mark she left on the art world at large.

Kouoh, who passed away last May, was the first African woman to curate the Biennale, chosen for her championing voice within contemporary Pan-African and diasporic art. The title of the installation, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” nods to the immense responsibility that comes with being a Biennale curator, and the celebratory spirit of championing feats.

The installation captures Kouoh’s likeness and legacy in Adams’ cubist signature. “Joyous depictions of Black experience have become synonymous with my practice and played a role within her curatorial philosophy: presenting jubilation as a site of resistance and beauty,” the artist expressed in a recent statement.

“This work commemorates Koyo by bestowing her with a radiant crown of ‘JOY’ that emits beams of gold signifying the brilliance and reach of her influence.” The presentation was led by Francesco Bonami, the curator of the 50th Venice Biennale, who came to known Kouoh after inviting her to serve on the Dreams and Conflict jury.

Kouoh’s upcoming In Minor Keys edition opens May 9 and Adams’ installation is on view through September 24. “In refusing the spectacle of horror, the time has come to listen to the minor keys, to tune in sotto voce to the whispers, to the lower frequencies; to find the oases, the islands, where the dignity of all living beings is safeguarded,” reads Kouoh’s exhibition text.