Art Rotterdam/Unseen Photo appoints two Head Curators

The fair is proud to announce the appointment of two new Head Curators: Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu for Art Rotterdam and Domenico de Chirico for Unseen Photo. From 1 July 2026, they will jointly shape the artistic direction of the fair and draw on their international networks to realise an even stronger, more diverse, and carefully curated gallery programme at the fair.

Both are well acquainted with the fair as it has taken shape at Rotterdam Ahoy over the past two years. Övül was responsible for the artistic programming of the New Art Section within Art Rotterdam for the past two editions; Domenico de Chirico curated the Unseen Encounters section.

Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu, newly appointed Head Curator Art Rotterdam: "Art Rotterdam is one of the key organisations that keep the heartbeat of the Dutch speaking art scene. To be entrusted with this overseeing curatorial role in its future steps is very humbling and exciting at the same time. I look forward to how we will shape  its new horizons together."

Domenico de Chirico, newly appointed Head Curator Unseen Photo: "Rooted in photography’s rich history while embracing its continuous transformation, UNSEEN Photo, as part of Art Rotterdam, is a platform dedicated to artistic discovery, critical dialogue, and the evolving language of photography. My vision is to strengthen its role as an international meeting place where emerging and established voices challenge conventions, inspire new perspectives, and reflect the complexities of contemporary visual culture."

Fons Hof, director Art Rotterdam / Unseen Photo: "Övül and Domenico each bring a unique vision, an impressive international track record, and a valuable network of international curators and collectors. With their curatorial expertise and innovative perspective, we are taking an important step in the further artistic development and international positioning of Art Rotterdam / Unseen Photo."

Unseen Book Market returns as an integral part of Unseen Photo 2027

One of the first initiatives of Head Curator Domenico de Chirico is the return of the Unseen Book Market at the upcoming edition of Unseen Photo. This much-loved feature has long been closely associated with Unseen Photo and strengthens the character and identity of the fair.

The Unseen Book Market took place as a pop-up at the Nederlands Fotomuseum during the previous edition, but from the upcoming edition onwards it will for the first time form an integral part of Unseen Photo on the fair floor at Rotterdam Ahoy. With space for 40 international publishers specialising in photography books, the fair does not so much grow in scale, but becomes more attractive, complete, and rich in content for photography enthusiasts and professionals from the Netherlands and abroad.

Save the date: the upcoming edition of Art Rotterdam / Unseen Photo / Unseen Book Market takes place from 18 to 21 March 2027 at Rotterdam Ahoy.

About Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu
Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu (b. 1978, Turkey) is a curator, writer, and educator working on civilizations critique, infrastructural questions, togetherness as a question of aesthetics and practice. Planetary Peasants (Museum Moritzburg, 2025), STIMMMMMMMMUNG (HBK Braunschweig, 2025), The Story Behind Each Word Must Be Known (Ab-Anbar London, 2024), What If A Journey & All Images Will Disappear, One Day (3rd and 4th Autostrada Biennale, 2021-23), Portrait of a Movement (CA2M and Tensta Konsthall, 2022-23), Katrina Daschner: Burn and Gloom, Glow and Moon (Kunsthalle Wien, 2022) are among the recent exhibitions she curated. Durmuşoğlu has been co-leading the Art in Discourse programme at Braunschweig University of Art. She is just appointed as the director for Index- The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation in Stockholm alongside the new responsibilities she takes in the coming edition of Art Rotterdam.

About Domenico de Chirico
Domenico de Chirico (b. 1983, Italy) is an independent curator based in Milan. He collaborates internationally with artists, galleries, institutions, art fairs, awards, and publications. Former Artistic Director of DAMA Fair, Turin (2016–2019), and curator of the “Beyond Photography – Dialogue” section at MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas, Milan (2019–2026), he has been curator of PRISMA Art Prize since 2023. He has curated numerous exhibitions and projects worldwide and served on international juries and selection committees in the field of contemporary art. He has been a visiting speaker at Goldsmiths, University of London, and has delivered lectures at FAMU Prague, UMPRUM Prague, NABA Milan, and ABABO Bologna. He currently teaches Phenomenology of Contemporary Art at IED Milan.