The curator and art writer Fatoş Üstek has been appointed as the new director of Liverpool Biennial, replacing Sally Tallant who is leaving to become director of Queens Museum, New York. Üstek will take up her position in May 2019.
Currently director and chief curator of the London-based David Roberts Art Foundation, Üstek was associate curator for the 10th Gwangju Biennale in South Korea in 2014. The following year she curated ‘fig-2, 50 projects in 50 weeks’, at ICA, London and Art Night 2017 in East London.
The Ankara-born curator said: “I am thrilled to take up the role as director of Liverpool Biennial. Through ten editions, Liverpool Biennial has gained a reputation for being one of the most important contemporary art events accessible to the large national and international public.”
She added: “In my new role I will be taking Liverpool as my point of reference, while reflecting on current global discourses and developments in the international arena. I look forward to inviting everyone to join me and the Liverpool Biennial team in the city of Liverpool in 2020 for the 11th biennial.”
Kathleen Soriano, chair of the board of trustees of Liverpool Biennial, said: “Üstek’s rich experience across different art forms, and her international connections, will enable us to build confidently on the achievements of our two previous directors, Lewis Biggs and Sally Tallant.
“We are excited at the prospect of working with Üstek and are confident that she will lead with energy and artistic integrity on the delivery of future, ambitious biennials in Liverpool for our local, national and global audiences.”
The tenth and most recent Liverpool Biennial, titled ‘Beautiful world, where are you?’, closed on 28 October 2018. The biennial was founded in 1998. Since beginning it has commissioned over 340 new artworks and presented work by more than 480 artists.
The 11th edition of Liverpool Biennial, with guest curator Manuela Moscoso, will take place from 11 July to 25 October 2020.
Image:
Fatoş Üstek, new director of Liverpool Biennial, 2019. Photo: Christa Holka
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