Thomas Kellein, a curator and art historian known for leading museums in Europe and the US, died in Berlin at age 70 following a serious illness. He directed the Kunsthalle Basel (1988–1995), organizing shows for Cindy Sherman, Mike Kelley, and Rachel Whiteread, and later led the Kunsthalle Bielefield (1996–2010) with exhibitions of Caspar David Friedrich, Jeff Koons, and others. He briefly directed the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas (2010–2012) before resigning, and subsequently led the Written Art Collection in Germany, commissioning text-based works by Lawrence Weiner, Jenny Holzer, and Qiu Zhijie.
Kellein’s death marks the loss of a curator who bridged European and American institutions, championing both established and emerging artists. His leadership at the Kunsthalle Basel and Bielefield reinforced their reputations as influential venues, while his work with the Written Art Collection expanded public engagement with text-based contemporary art. His legacy underscores the role of curators in shaping discourse around minimalism, Fluxus, and conceptual art.