ULTIMO.- The Board of Directors of Artspace announced the appointment of Victor Wang 王宗孚 as the Director of Artspace. In this role, Victor will lead the senior leadership team, defining and shaping the strategic direction of the organisation. He will oversee Artspace’s curatorial and public programs, exhibitions, studio program, international curators program, and international partnerships and co- commissioning projects, while also guiding the development of the institution’s growth and outreach initiatives. Wang is in the process of relocating to Australia and is anticipated to take on the role this autumn.

Wang joins Artspace from M WOODS Museum, where he has served as the Executive and Artistic Director since 2019, overseeing both the Beijing and Chengdu locations. At M WOODS, he curated and co-curated the first institutional exhibitions in China and often in Asia—of artists such as Ann Veronica Janssens (2023), Ryuichi Sakamoto (2023 and 2021), Salman Toor (2023), Martin Margiela (2022), Bruce Nauman (2022), Man Ray (2021), Giorgio Morandi (2020), and Richard Tuttle (2019), among others. He led the development of international collaborations with major institutions including Tate Modern and The British Museum. He oversaw the artistic programs across M WOODS’ multiple sites, including the original location in the 798 Art District, M WOODS Hutong, and the newly expanded Chengdu location, which opened in 2023.

Wang has been a significant force in the region, curating exhibitions and presentations that highlight the dynamic connections and exchanges between global Asia(s) and the West, while challenging the constraints of these definitions. He co-curated the exhibition Inside China - L’Intérieur du Géant, presented at K11 Art Foundation in 2015, in collaboration with Palais de Tokyo, Paris, creating a dialogue between emerging artists from France and China. Additionally, he has a particular interest in performance art, and has previously served as curator of Frieze LIVE at the Frieze Art Fair in London, 2020, where he developed the Institute of Melodic Healing with participating artists and collaborators such as Alvaro Barrington, Mandy El-Sayegh, Anthea Hamilton, and Zadie Xa & Benito Mayor Vallejo.

Artspace Chair, Peter Wilson said: ‘Victor’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Artspace. Over many years our team, including successive members of the Board and staff, has worked towards the realisation of The Gunnery transformation project and on building Artspace’s profile and impact nationally and internationally. With Victor’s appointment we are making a clear commitment to continuing to grow the organisation as a force in the region, the nexus of a thriving reciprocity across Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

We also acknowledge and thank our team, led by Michelle Newton as Interim Executive Director, over the past nine months. Michelle’s leadership contributed directly to our successful inaugural Artspace Gala and Benefit Auction in September, delivered significant increases to state and federal multi-year funding, and established an exciting forward program for 2025, including the reimagining of the studio program.’

Victor Wang said: ‘Artspace is one of the most exciting institutions in the Asia-Pacific, and I am deeply honoured to be leading it at this pivotal moment. Through Artspace’s dedicated work over the past ten years – amplifying First Nations voices, driving the revitalisation of The Gunnery, and cultivating fertile ground for artistic growth and experimentation - the institution is now beginning the next chapter of its ongoing evolution. With over 40 years of history, Artspace has long been a vital part of the thriving pan-Asian community and the broader Asia-Pacific region, and can now expand its reach as a confluence where First Nations, diasporic, and pan-Asian solidarities converge to build something entirely new, challenging the legacy of seeking cultural validation from Europe and North America.’

Now is the time to reconfigure cartographies, reconnect with the shared histories, waterways, and deep cultural ties of the Asia-Pacific and the Global South, and to collectively grow new institutional models where the future of art, both locally and regionally, is being redefined and supported. Artspace is preparing to be more than just a platform; it will become a laboratory for bold ideas, a home for radical imagination, and a space without borders or shores.’

Rhana Devenport Rhana Devenport ONZM, former Director, Art Gallery of South Australia, and member of the recruitment panel, said: ‘Victor Wang brings a wealth of organisational experience across multiple arts sectors, as well as curatorial excellence and a deep passion for artists and audiences to the role of Director, Artspace.

To date Artspace has earned a strong reputation as an important cultural contributor within Australia and across the region; under Wang’s thoughtful and innovative leadership, this vital role promises to be significantly strengthened, energised and enriched into the future.’

Artspace Board member and artist Daniel Boyd, said: ‘Having met Victor a few times over the years I am excited to welcome him to Artspace. His appointment will help deepen the conversation between Australia and the region, building on the generative role that Artspace has played in supporting international partnerships and co commissions.’

Victor’s appointment follows the $19.2 million transformation of Artspace in The Gunnery, securing its future with a 35-year sublease from Create NSW, through the NSW Government. The building transformation has repositioned Artspace’s visibility and profile significantly, expanding on opportunities for engagement on both a national and international level.

Victor’s appointment follows an international and national search by AEGEUS.