Ralph Rugoff to Curate 58th Venice Biennale in 2019

Ralph Rugoff has been appointed director of the Visual Arts Sector for La Biennale di Venezia, making him curator of the 58th International Art Exhibition scheduled from May 11 to November 24, 2019. Since 2006, Rugoff has led London's Hayward Gallery, which has been undergoing renovations since September 2015 and is slated to reopen in January 2018. His curatorial experience includes directing the XIII Biennale de Lyon in 2015, titled La vie moderne, and organizing The Infinite Mix, a 2016 off-site video exhibition in London. Previously, from 2000 to 2006, he served as director of San Francisco's CCA Wattis Institute. At the Hayward, he curated notable group shows such as The Painting of Modern Life in 2007 and Psycho Buildings in 2008, featuring installations by artists like Mike Nelson, Gelitin, and Do-ho Suh. Between 1985 and 2002, Rugoff contributed art and cultural criticism to publications including Artforum, Parkett, The Los Angeles Times, The Financial Times, and The Los Angeles Weekly. The appointment was approved by the Board of La Biennale di Venezia and announced on December 15, 2017.