The Curator-Manager and Transformations in Global Art

The book critically analyzes recent transformations in curatorial practices and contemporary art exhibitions driven by cultural globalization, grounded in an examination of the career paths of contemporary curators within the global context of biennial exhibitions.

The book critically analyzes recent transformations in curatorial practices and contemporary art exhibitions driven by cultural globalization, grounded in an examination of the career paths of contemporary curators within the global context of biennial exhibitions. Through the professional trajectories of Adriano Pedrosa, Vasif Kortun, Yuko Hasegawa, Rosa Martinez, Okwui Enwezor, Hou Hanru, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Charles Esche, the study demonstrates the rise of the curator-manager. This figure marks an expansion of the curatorial role beyond art selection and presentation to encompass management and administrative techniques. The book also traces how the curator-manager aligns with curatorial trends that aim to dismantle persistent aesthetic hierarchies — particularly those rooted in the Eurocentric structure of the art system. By mapping curatorial flows, the book maps global networks in the art world, identifying the relationships between agents and institutions and revealing the formation of art legitimization and valorization regimes. This work is ideal for students and researchers in curating, art theory, museum and heritage studies, and contemporary art.