Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, a renowned curator and museum director known for her unconventional exhibitions, will retire at the end of this year, as announced by the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art in Turin. Having worked at the institution for over two decades and leading it since 2016, she leaves behind an influential legacy. Recognized globally, she has curated acclaimed biennials and challenged traditional notions of art curation.
A standout achievement was her curatorship of Documenta 13 in 2012, which took place in Kassel, Germany, and featured exhibitions in far-flung locations like Alexandria and Banff. Her offbeat approach continued with Documenta 14 and the Istanbul Biennial in 2015, where she explored themes such as eco-feminism, the Armenian genocide, and salt, pushing boundaries and offering fresh perspectives.
Throughout her career, Christov-Bakargiev held positions at prestigious institutions like Villa Medici in Rome and MoMA PS1. While fulfilling her curatorial responsibilities, she curated remarkable exhibitions, gaining the support of numerous artists. She proved that museum directors need not conform to conventional norms to excel in their roles.
Her affiliation with the Castello di Rivoli dates back to 2002 when she initially served as chief curator. Over the years, she organized an array of captivating and unconventional exhibitions. Notable among them was a 2017 show exploring colors and emotions, featuring a vast range of artworks from Tantra drawings to videos by Hito Steyerl.
Christov-Bakargiev’s tenure saw significant milestones, including the acquisition of the Cerruti collection and the transformation of the museum into a Covid vaccination site. She fostered connections with artists like Beeple and facilitated meaningful engagements.
Even in retirement, she remains active, leading a major research project on her archive and multi-year publication initiatives. Additionally, she plans to curate an exhibition on the Arte Povera movement in Paris and contribute to the catalogs raisonnés of Fabio Mauri and Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Expressing her gratitude to the artists she collaborated with, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev looks forward to returning to art as an audience member. Her departure marks the end of an era characterized by innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions that challenged the status quo of art curation.