Kulapat Yantrasast Appointed Artistic Director of Bukhara Biennial 2027
Kulapat Yantrasast, the founder of WHY Architecture, has been appointed the artistic director for the 2027 Bukhara Biennial, set to take place in Bukhara, Uzbekistan from September 3 to November 21. The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), alongside Gayane Umerova, announced his selection. Yantrasast, known for his involvement in significant cultural initiatives, previously collaborated with ACDF on the award-nominated "When Apricots Blossom" project at Milan Design Week in 2026. The upcoming biennial aims to integrate traditional craftsmanship with modern artistic expressions and will continue the legacy started in the inaugural 2025 edition, with the curatorial theme forthcoming.
Key facts
- Kulapat Yantrasast is artistic director of Bukhara Biennial 2027.
- The biennial runs from 3 September to 21 November 2027 in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
- Yantrasast is founder and creative director of WHY Architecture.
- He was selected by Gayane Umerova and the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).
- Recent projects include the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dib Contemporary Art Center, the ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Center, and projects at the Musée du Louvre.
- In 2026, ACDF and Yantrasast collaborated on 'When Apricots Blossom' for Milan Design Week, shortlisted for the Fuorisalone Award with a Special Mention.
- Yantrasast is a 2026 Art Basel Medalist.
- The 2027 edition builds on the 2025 inaugural edition and will be overseen by an Advisory Board including Aya Al-Bakree, Alia Al-Senussi, Dilyara Allakhverdova, Alberto Cavalli, Aaron Cezar, Chris Dercon, and Michael Govan.
Entities
Artists
- Kulapat Yantrasast
- Diana Campbell
- Tadao Ando
- Gayane Umerova
- Antony Gormley
- Marina Perez Simão
- Erika Verzutti
- Subodh Gupta
- Delcy Morelos
- Dana Awartani
- Carsten Höller
- Tarek Atoui
- Hera Buyuktaşcıyan
- Bekhbaatar Enkhtur
- Eva Jospin
- Hana Miletić
- Pakui Hardware
- Jahongir Bobokulov
- Munisa Kholkhujaeva
- Zilola Saidova
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev
- Alia Al-Senussi
- Chris Dercon
- Aya Al-Bakree
- Dilyara Allakhverdova
- Alberto Cavalli
- Aaron Cezar
- Michael Govan
Institutions
- WHY Architecture
- Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF)
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dib Contemporary Art Center
- ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Center
- Musée du Louvre
- Bukhara Biennial
- Art Basel
- Fuorisalone Award
- Milan Design Week
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dib Bangkok
- ILMI Science Discovery & Innovation Center
- Louvre
- ArtAsiaPacific
- UNESCO
- National Museum of India
- Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
- Centre for Contemporary Arts of Tashkent
- National Museum of Uzbekistan
- Biennale di Venezia
- Expo Osaka
- Aral Culture Summit
- Milano Design Week
- Palazzo Citterio
- Art Basel Awards
- Fondation Beyeler
- Biennial Foundation
- Wilmotte & Associés
- Grand Rapids Art Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met)
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Noguchi Museum
- Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Locations
- Bukhara
- Uzbekistan
- New York
- Bangkok
- Riyadh
- Paris
- Karakalpakstan
- Thailand
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Saudi Arabia
- Milan
- Italy
- Aral Sea
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Fort Worth
- Texas
- New Delhi
- India
- Tashkent
- Osaka
- Venice
- Grand Rapids
- France