Kunsthaus Zürich Appoints Hendrik Folkerts as Chief Curator and Maja Wismer as Head of Collection and Research
The Facts
On August 29, 2025, Kunsthaus Zürich announced the appointment of Hendrik Folkerts as Chief Curator of Programme and Maja Wismer as Head of Collection and Research. Folkerts, who has held senior curatorial positions at Moderna Museet in Stockholm, the Art Institute of Chicago, documenta 14, and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, will begin his role on February 1, 2026. Wismer previously led the Department of Art after 1960 and Contemporary Art at Kunstmuseum Basel from October 2020 to May 2025. Both will work with Director Ann Demeester and the team to advance the museum's curatorial vision, focusing on transhistorical programming and research-driven projects spanning art from the 13th century to the present.
The Signal
The appointments signal a strategic strengthening of Kunsthaus Zürich's leadership with a focus on contemporary and transhistorical approaches. Folkerts brings expertise in performance, feminist and queer perspectives, and global curatorial practice, while Wismer contributes deep knowledge of postwar and contemporary art. Together, they are expected to reshape the museum's programme and collection strategy, reinforcing its position as a major Swiss institution with international ambitions. The moves highlight the museum's commitment to bridging classical and innovative art forms, a direction that may influence curatorial trends across Europe.
- People: Hendrik Folkerts, Maja Wismer, Ann Demeester
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich, Moderna Museet, Art Institute of Chicago, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Kunstmuseum Basel
- Locations: Zürich
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