The Hepworth Wakefield, the award-winning Yorkshire gallery that recently opened its new contemporary art space, The Calder, has appointed Andrew Bonacina as its new Chief Curator.
Bonacina joins The Hepworth from International Project Space in Birmingham, where he is Director/Curator. He will be responsible for programming across both the main gallery and The Calder. His role will also involve contributing to the development of The Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, a major initiative that aims to establish the region as a new world capital for sculpture.
Bonacina said: “I’m delighted to be joining the team at this exciting moment and look forward to working on its increasingly ambitious programme of historical and contemporary exhibitions.”
At International Project Space, Bonacina has worked with artists such as Andrea Büttner, Cally Spooner, Laure Prouvost and Redmond Entwistle. As Director and founder of the non-profit curatorial organisation, The Island, he curated projects at The Clocktower Gallery in New York (with Haroon Mirza and Hannah Sawtell), Whitstable Biennial 2012 (with Jesse Jones, Gareth Moore, Patrick Staff and Cara Tolmie) and Art Dubai Special Projects (UAE). He has also been a curator at Chisenhale Gallery and Frieze Foundation.
Alongside his new role in Wakefield, Bonacina will continue as curator at the Monsoon Art Collection, and as a member of the curatorial committee for Milan International Art Fair.
Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Andrew to the team at this exciting time, with the gallery expanding its existing offer with the opening of The Calder and the further development of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle. The exhibitions and events programme in our new contemporary art space will provide even more opportunities for creative collaborations and to engage with a wider audience. Andrew’s expertise will contribute significantly to helping us to realise this.”
