Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland has appointed Rahel Kesselring as its inaugural botanical curator, a newly created position supported by the Chanel Culture Fund. Kesselring, a former research associate at Humboldt University, will develop a hybrid curatorial programme focused on the museum's park and surrounding ecosystems, aiming to integrate botanical knowledge with artistic practice on a practical, material level.
This appointment signals a shift in how major art institutions approach the ecological turn, moving beyond metaphorical or crisis-driven exhibitions towards a more engaged, long-term commitment. By establishing a dedicated curatorial role for plants and ecology, the museum is attempting to institutionalize ecological care, challenging traditional museum controls and schedules to accommodate the time-scales and impermanence of living systems.