Marie Hélène Pereira leads Venice Biennale 2024 after Koyo Kouoh's passing

Marie Hélène Pereira is implementing the late curator Koyo Kouoh's vision for the 2024 Venice Biennale, titled In Minor Keys. Kouoh, who died in May, had developed extensive curatorial notes and begun selecting artists before her passing. Pereira serves on a three-person delivery team continuing this work. She maintains multiple professional roles while overseeing this major exhibition. Since 2011, Pereira has been associated with RAW Material Company in Dakar, where she served as director of programmes from 2019 to 2022 and now acts as an adviser. The institution recently hosted a day-long tribute to founder Kouoh while continuing its residency programs featuring Chimurenga, DJ Maguette Dieng, and filmmaker Janilda Bartolomeu. RAW Material Company also runs an academy program taught by Felwine Sarr. Simultaneously, Pereira works as senior curator at Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt, where she oversees the Tongue and Throat Memories food program. She brought this program to the Bukhara Biennial. Pereira's diverse experience across continents and institutions positions her to complete Kouoh's ambitious biennale plans.