International Judge Announced For The Walters Prize 2024, Opening This Weekend At Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tāmaki

Professor Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, highly regarded curator and author, has been appointed as the judge for this year’s Walters Prize, Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading contemporary art award.

Currently the director and chief curator of Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin, Germany, Professor Ndikung has recently been appointed as the chief curator for the 2025 Bienal de São Paulo.

He has previously gained critical attention for his roles as artistic director of SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin; artistic director of sonsbeek 2020–2024, in Arnhem, the Netherlands; curator-at-large for Documenta 14, Greece and Kassel, guest curator of the Dak’Art biennale in Dakar, Senegal, artistic director for the 12th and 13th editions of the Bamako Encounters African Biennale of Photography in Mali, in 2019 and 2022; and curator of the Finnish Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale, 2019.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Art Gallery Kirsten Lacy says she is delighted Professor Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung will be judging the 2024 Walters Prize.

“We’re honoured to announce Professor Ndikung as the esteemed judge for this year’s Walters Prize. Professor Nidkung has a distinguished reputation and extensive knowledge of contemporary art from around the world.”

The finalists for the Walters Prize are selected for their outstanding contributions to contemporary art in New Zealand in the preceding years.

The Walters Prize 2024 exhibition showcasing the work of this year’s finalists – Juliet Carpenter, Owen Connors, Brett Graham and Ana Iti – opens this Saturday 6 July at Auckland Art Gallery. Entry is free.

Professor Ndikung will announce the winning 2024 Walters Prize artist at an event at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in October after viewing the finalist’s work.

The Walters Prize 2024 is running alongside a new contemporary art triennial for New Zealand, Aotearoa Contemporary.

The Walters Prize founding benefactors and principal donors are Erika and Robin Congreve, Dame Jenny Gibbs. Major donors are Dayle Mace, and Christopher and Charlotte Swasbrook.

Exhibition details:

The Walters Prize 2024

Saturday 6 July–Sunday 20 October 2024

10am–5pm daily

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