Stefanie Hessler appointed director of Swiss Institute New York, succeeding Simon Castets

Stefanie Hessler will lead the Swiss Institute in New York, starting in May, replacing Simon Castets. Her background includes directing Kunsthall Trondheim in Norway and curating for TBA21–Academy in Vienna and London, with a focus on ocean-related interdisciplinary art. Hessler has curated biennials such as the 2020 Momenta Biennale in Montreal and the 6th Athens Biennale in 2018. Her work emphasizes practices from the Global South and Indigenous art, and she has contributed to ArtReview. Castets will move to LUMA Arles as director of strategic initiatives, under Maja Hoffmann, who chairs the Swiss Institute board. Hessler aims to expand the institute's programming amid social and environmental challenges.