ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

MACBA Director Elvira Dyangani Ose Steps Down Early

institutional · 2026-04-24

Elvira Dyangani Ose is planning to step down as the director of MACBA in Barcelona in early April, before completing her five-year contract. According to El País, her resignation follows a decision by the museum's governing board that her recent role as artistic director for the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial conflicts with her current position. It’s reported that Dyangani Ose informed the staff via a letter, mentioning she had alerted the governing body about the biennial role and asked for permission to juggle both jobs until her contract expired, but her request was turned down.

Key facts

  • Elvira Dyangani Ose steps down as MACBA director in early April.
  • Her five-year contract was not yet complete.
  • The decision follows MACBA's governing body deeming her Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial role incompatible.
  • She was recently appointed artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial.
  • Dyangani Ose requested permission to hold both roles simultaneously.
  • The request was denied by MACBA's governing body.
  • She sent a letter to MACBA staff explaining her departure.
  • The news was reported by Spanish newspaper El País.

Entities

Artists

  • Elvira Dyangani Ose

Institutions

  • MACBA
  • Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial
  • El País

Locations

  • Barcelona
  • Spain
  • Abu Dhabi
  • United Arab Emirates

Sources