Portrait of a Visionary: Honouring Koyo Kouoh.
- Richard Mudariki
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Richard Mudariki
Koyo Kouoh was more than a curator - she was a visionary, a connector, and a tireless advocate for contemporary African art and its rightful place on the global stage. Her influence extended far beyond the institutions she shaped, igniting conversations, nurturing careers, and helping define the cultural narrative of a continent. As Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA, her tenure was marked by fearless leadership, intellectual depth, and an unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of African and diasporic artists.
From Dakar, where she founded RAW Material Company, to global centres like London, Paris, Brussels and Johannesburg, Koyo embodied a rare kind of cultural stewardship: sharp, generous, and profoundly rooted in Africa’s complexity. She was instrumental in shifting the perception of African art from the margins to the centre of contemporary global discourse, where it belongs.
It is in this spirit of reverence and remembrance that I painted 'Koyo', a portrait created at the Cape Town Studio Museum. The work is my tribute to a woman whose presence continues to resonate in every conversation about African art that dares to be bold, inclusive, and visionary. As I painted, it felt as though she had finally visited my studio - something she had often spoken about. And in some way, through this act of creation, she did.
While working on the portrait, I imagined the conversations we might have had - her insights, her laughter, her fierce clarity. In those quiet hours, it felt as though she was guiding each brushstroke. Painting her became both a meditation on her life and a way of preserving her legacy in the way artists know best - through the making of something that endures. Life, in the long run, is short. But paintings, like the movements and ideas Koyo championed, live on.
I first met Koyo in 2014 at RAW Material Company in Dakar Senegal during the Dakar Biennale. Despite my limited French, I was deeply struck by her eloquence and her ability to articulate the intricacies of African contemporary art. She led us through the space with confidence and insight, and the impression she left on me was lasting.
Our paths crossed again in 2015 at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, where I participated in the artist talks programme. Her presence and perspective reaffirmed her commitment to opening global platforms to African artists. When she was appointed Executive Director and Chief Curator at Zeitz MOCAA in 2019 - a few years after I had taken part in one of the museum’s first artist residencies - I was thrilled. I knew then that the museum would be in strong, transformative hands. Under her leadership, my work 'History of Art in Zimbabwe' was included in the touring exhibition When We See Us: A century of Black Figuration in Painting, currently on view at BOZAR in Brussels.
Our last real conversation was at the farewell gathering for Tandazani Dhlakama and Storm van Rensburg at Zeitz MOCAA. We stood on the balcony overlooking Cape Town Harbour, under the night sky, joined by Ronald Muchatuta. We spoke about art and family, a moment of connection and reflection I now hold even more dearly.
Koyo’s passing is a profound loss to the art world. Her legacy, as a curator, a mentor, and a courageous cultural leader continues to shape us.
This portrait is a small offering, a way to honour her enduring impact and the role she played in my own journey as an artist.
Richard Mudariki is an artist and cultural producer working between Harare and Cape Town. He hold a Honours in Cultural Heritage, Museiology and Archaeology from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
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