Koyo Kouoh, the influential curator and executive director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz Mocaa) in Cape Town, has died at age 57, just ten days before she was to announce the title and themes of the 2026 Venice Biennale, for which she had been appointed curator of the international exhibition in December 2024—the first African woman to hold that role. Kouoh transformed Zeitz Mocaa from a fledgling institution into a globally respected museum, securing the donation of Jochen Zeitz's collection, expanding the board, and launching community-focused initiatives like the exhibition *Home is Where the Art is* (2020-21) and the online summit Radical Solidarity.
Kouoh's death marks a profound loss for the global art world, as she was not only a transformative museum leader but also a pioneering curator who championed artists from Africa and the African diaspora with critical rigor. Her appointment to the Venice Biennale signaled a historic shift toward greater representation, and her vision for the 2026 edition—emphasizing interconnectedness across continents—will now be carried forward by the Biennale organizers, who plan to announce exhibition plans on 27 May. Her legacy at Zeitz Mocaa and her influence as a thought leader will continue to shape curatorial practice and institutional building worldwide.