The curator’s role is far from ordinary — it’s a blend of strategy, creativity, and storytelling that shapes how art is experienced. From developing innovative, thought-provoking concepts to selecting the perfect venue and engaging audiences, curators are at the heart of designing unforgettable experiences. But in today’s fast-evolving cultural landscape, how to ensure your exhibition stands out and truly resonates? Let’s explore the trends that are defining the future of curatorial practice.
Unconventional Locations
Hosting exhibitions in unexpected spaces enhances the viewer’s experience and breathes new life into underused venues or places that are utilised for other functions.
Examples: St Margaret’s House Chapel, The Crypt Gallery in Euston, Hackney Downs railway station, Lungley Gallery in a pub basement, Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room at Desert X.
Brand Collaborations
Curators actively partner with brands, blending art with commerce to create unique projects. These collaborations expand audiences and elevate the profile of both the artwork and the brand. While often tied to fashion, this trend invites other industries to explore art partnerships as a cultural contribution.
Examples: New Bond Street Art Program by Gucci, Kusama x Louis Vuitton, BMW Art Journey, Westfield x Tom Favre, Prada x Artist Intervention, Raf Simons x Robert Mapplethorpe, Prada x Elmgreen & Dragset, Westfield x Ludwig Favre.
Collective Curatorship
The trend toward collective work replaces the “star curator” model. These collaborations often evolve into institutions like the British Art Network.
Examples: Kollektiv Collective, TeamLab in Tokyo, The Shed in New York.
Photo: Chris F / Pexels
Supplementary Programming
Engaging audiences through parallel activities like music performances, workshops, and educational events creates a layered experience and fosters deeper audience involvement.
Examples: In Real Life by Olafur Eliasson at Tate Modern, workshops during the Happily Ever After exhibition, and many other events with added educational or musical programmes.
AI in Curatorial Practice
AI assists in audience analysis, artist selection, and forging creative connections. While its use sparks debate, its potential to enhance curatorial decisions is hard to deny.
Accessibility and Audience Communication
Curators are adopting a more relatable approach to communicate with audiences. Online exhibitions, community-generated content in labels and audio guides, and affordable art fairs make art more accessible.
Examples: Accessible Art Fair in Brussels and London, Google Virtual Art Sessions, Virtual Art Basel.
Sustainable Solutions
Sustainability in curatorial work supports local artists, reduces carbon footprints through digital formats, and explores themes of ecological consciousness.
Examples: Olafur Eliasson’s Ice Watch outside Tate Modern, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Es Devlin’s Forest for Change at the London Design Biennale, and works by Athena LaTocha, Mary Manning, Carl Cheng, and more.
Photo: Minn H / Pexels
Immersive and Multisensory Experiences
Creating engaging experiences with sound, lighting, and captivating scenography is a growing focus in curatorial projects.
Examples: Barbican exhibitions, ARTECHOUSE’s Infinite Space by Refik Anadol, Superblue in Miami, TeamLab Borderless in Tokyo, Outernet Arts at Tottenham Court Road.
Cross-Disciplinary Projects
Collaborations between curators, architects, designers, and even chefs lead to richer, multi-layered projects with thoughtful design and supplementary activities.
Examples: Serpentine Pavilion in London, Daniel Libeskind’s work for Venice Biennale, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and The Spiral of Time at the Royal Ontario Museum.
Focus on Political and Social Themes
With geopolitical tension and a year of global elections, artists and curators reflect on pressing societal issues.
Examples: Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art at Barbican, Jokes Everywhere at Feelium Gallery.
Unconventional Narratives
Rather than chronological or geographical arrangements, curators experiment with thematic or cross-disciplinary narratives, combining modern works with classical art to foster unique viewer interpretations.
Examples: Barkley L. Hendricks show at The Frick, Harvard Art Museums’ cross-historical approaches, and the Seattle Art Museum’s American Art: The Stories We Carry.
