Vyjayanthi Rao to Curate 2026 Sharjah Architecture Triennial
Vyjayanthi Rao has been chosen to curate the upcoming Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) set for 2026, with Tau Tavengwa as the associate curator. Rao, who splits her time between New York and Mumbai, is a multifaceted professional—an anthropologist, artist, and writer with a PhD from the University of Chicago, currently teaching at Yale's School of Architecture. She has curated significant exhibitions like Multiplicity in Lisbon (2022) and Seeking Refuge in New York (2023). Meanwhile, Tavengwa, who founded Cityscapes Magazine and co-founded CS Studio, is involved with the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town. SAT president Hoor Al Qasimi praised Rao's insights into urbanization, which resonate with the triennial's mission. Launched in 2018, SAT focuses on architecture and urbanism in West Asia, South Asia, and Africa.
Key facts
- Vyjayanthi Rao will curate the third edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial in 2026.
- Tau Tavengwa will serve as associate curator.
- Rao is an anthropologist, writer, artist, and curator based in New York and Mumbai.
- She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and teaches at the Yale School of Architecture.
- Rao is co-editor in chief of Public Culture (Duke University Press).
- Her curatorial projects include Multiplicity at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale (2022) and Seeking Refuge and Making Home at the Center for Architecture in New York (2023).
- Tavengwa is founder of Cityscapes Magazine, cofounder of CS Studio, and curator at large at the African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town.
- The Sharjah Architecture Triennial was founded in 2018 and focuses on West Asia, South Asia, and Africa.
Entities
Artists
- Vyjayanthi Rao
- Tau Tavengwa
Institutions
- Sharjah Architecture Triennial
- Yale School of Architecture
- Duke University Press
- Lisbon Architecture Triennale
- Center for Architecture in New York
- Cityscapes Magazine
- CS Studio
- African Centre for Cities
- University of Cape Town
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- Ars Electronica STARTS Prize
Locations
- Sharjah
- New York
- Mumbai
- Chicago
- Lisbon
- Cape Town
- Venice