Biennale of Sydney announces 2028 Artistic Director

Low Kee Hong is one of the most distinctive voices working in contemporary multi-artform curation internationally. For the 26th Biennale of Sydney (2028), he will bring together artists from across Australia and around the world, embracing contemporary art, music, architecture, performance, literature, philosophy, food, fashion and nature, recasting approaches to Biennale making with an exhibition of contemporary art at its core. 

Low Kee Hong is Creative Director of Factory International based at Aviva Studios, the most significant cultural landmark in the UK since the opening of the Tate Modern in 2000. He oversees the Curatorial team at Factory International and alongside John McGrath, the organisation’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, works to develop the artistic program for the organisation. Low recently collaborated with Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei to co-create the artist’s first 24-hour durational performance Sewing a Button, which took place at Aviva Studios as part of Factory International’s major new exhibition Ai Weiwei: Button Up! the artist’s largest ever site-specific exhibition, curated by Low. Low also leads the curation for the biannual Manchester International Festival (MIF), a core pillar of Factory International’s programming. 

Previously, he was Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale, Artistic Director and General Manager of the Singapore Arts Festival, Associate Artistic Director of TheatreWorks (Singapore), and Head of Theatre, Performing Arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong. 

Low Kee Hong, Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney, said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Biennale of Sydney as Artistic Director. Sydney is a city of extraordinary energy, creativity and diversity, and the Biennale offers a unique platform to bring artists and audiences together in ways that are both meaningful and unexpected. I believe contemporary art has the power to create encounters that stay with us, to inspire wonder, foster connection and open new possibilities for how we see ourselves and one another. My hope is to create an edition that feels generous, proposing new ways of assembly and rebuilding communities and celebrating our capacity for joy in these challenging times. The 2028 Biennale will embrace participation and discovery, inviting people from all walks of life to share in the experience. I look forward to spending time with artists, communities and cultural leaders across Australia and the wider region, building relationships that will help shape an edition grounded in inspiration, imagination and collective celebration.” 

Barbara Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Biennale of Sydney said: “We are thrilled to welcome Low Kee Hong as the Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney (2028). At a time when people are seeking authentic connection, hope and shared experiences, Kee Hong’s vision offers warmth and kindness, embracing a shared sense of humanity through difference and change. The Biennale of Sydney is one of the leading contemporary art events in the world, and our next edition in 2028, under the Artistic Direction of Kee Hong, will bring people together with a spirit of openness, creativity and possibility, embracing the power of contemporary art and creative expression to inspire people, bring us joy, and create lasting, meaningful memories.”