We are delighted to announce that Emma Ridgway, our Chief Curator, Head of Exhibitions and Learning, has been appointed by the British Council as the Shane Akeroyd Associate Curator of the British Pavilion at the 59th Biennale Arte in Venice, 2022.
For her role she will work with artist Sonia Boyce in presenting a major solo exhibition of new work. Boyce is known for her highly innovative, experimental and collaborative approach to artmaking and came to prominence as a key figure in the burgeoning Black-British art scene of the early 1980s.
Emma has led the artistic programme of exhibitions and learning at Modern Art Oxford since 2015, including curating major exhibitions of artists Lubaina Himid, Rose Finn-Kelcey, Hannah Ryggen, Penny Woolcock, Claudette Johnson with forthcoming exhibitions of Ruth Asawa, Samson Kambalu and Anish Kapoor.
Emma has said of her appointment; “It is an honour to be granted this exciting opportunity to become the inaugural Shane Akeroyd Associate Curator ofthe British Pavilion. I am completely delighted to collaborate with Sonia Boyce, and the team at the British Council. It will be wonderful to learn from Boyce’s exploratory creative process as we work together to shape a unique exhibition for La Biennale Arte 2022.”