TOVA Foundation launches to promote Kazakh contemporary art globally

A new private foundation, TOVA Foundation, has been established in Geneva to promote contemporary art from Central Asia, with a focus on Kazakhstan. Founded by Kazakh-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Togzhan Wertheimer, the foundation aims to provide visibility and career opportunities for young artists and curators from the region. Its board includes David Wertheimer (heir to the Chanel fortune), Tatiana de Pahlen, and art advisor Jean-Olivier Despres, formerly of Perrotin and Gagosian. Curator Vladislav Sludskiy, previously at Metis Art Education and Ethan Cohen Gallery, and founder of ARTBAT FEST and the Eurasian Cultural Alliance, leads the foundation's programming. At the 2026 Venice Biennale, Kazakhstan's national pavilion, housed at the Museo Storico Navale, was praised for its project on silence. TOVA Foundation debuted with the exhibition "Trading Treasures" featuring Kazakh artists Saule Suleimenova and Sayan Baigaliyev at Casa dei Tre Oci on Giudecca Island. The foundation's activities focus on production, education, and communication, aiming to foster international cooperation and cultural exchange.