Zeitz MOCAA Names Elvira Dyangani Ose as Artistic Director
Curator Elvira Dyangani Ose takes over as Zeitz MOCAA Artistic Director following the legacy of Koyo Kouoh after her passing in 2025.
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) has appointed Elvira Dyangani Ose as its new Artistic Director, a role that brings a seasoned professional from European state museums to oversee the continent's largest contemporary art institution. Dyangani Ose's appointment comes as Zeitz MOCAA nears its tenth anniversary and stands on the structural framework established by her predecessor, Koyo Kouoh, who directed the museum until her death in 2025.
After an extensive search involving local and international candidates, the Zeitz Board welcomed Dyangani Ose. David Green, co-founder and co-chair of Zeitz MOCAA, noted that her appointment reflects the institution's commitment to being rooted in Africa while connected to the world. Dyangani Ose, born in Spain to Equatoguinean parents, holds degrees in the History of Art from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Cornell University.
Her approach to museums, as a spatial structure that dictates cultural authority distribution, was evident during her tenure as Curator of International Art at Tate Modern in London. She also served as the Director of the Museu d Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) from 2021 to April 2026, making her the first Black woman to lead a major European modern art museum.
Before her current role, Dyangani Ose co-curated the 2006 exhibition Olvida Quien Soy / Erase at the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno in Las Palmas, Spain, with South African curators Gabi Ngcobo, Tracy Murinik, and Khwezi Guli. This work formed a critical foundation for her understanding of African storytelling and representation.
As Zeitz MOCAA's new Artistic Director, Dyangani Ose will oversee the museum's curatorial vision and direction, leading the institution through its next chapter. Her deep ties to the South African curatorial landscape, coupled with her extensive experience in European institutions, positions her to broaden the museum's scope across research, collections, and public programming.
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