The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Mambo) has abruptly introduced it is going to change its creative director, Eugenio Viola, who has been within the function for greater than seven years. A spokesperson for the Colombian museum confirmed that it has already begun the seek for Viola’s successor. The establishment first introduced the information on its social media channels, stating that the change was a part of a “complete evaluate”.
“The board of administrators ended my contract early, not on account of any creative or management deficiencies,” Viola stated in a press release to The Artwork Newspaper. “My departure adopted my resolution to lift considerations with the board in September 2025 concerning the progressive deterioration of working situations—considerations shared by a number of staff members. As an alternative of conducting an inner evaluate, the board dismissed these points and terminated my contract.”
Viola stated that the choice was made public final Friday (6 February) in social media with commenting disabled, stopping any public dialogue in regards to the resolution. “These actions don’t align with the rules of transparency, due course of and open trade that any cultural establishment ought to uphold,” he says. “I depart with my integrity intact, having acted in good religion, supported my staff and persistently maintained moral requirements.”
The museum’s official assertion saying Viola’s dismissal on 6 February claimed that “on account of the excellent and ongoing evaluate of the completely different elements that comprise our museum, and all the time with the goal of guaranteeing finest practices throughout the establishment, the board of administrators of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá has determined to terminate its relationship with Mr Eugenio Viola, who will stay with us till Could 2026”. The assertion expressed gratitude to Viola for his contributions to “consolidating the museum as a number one Latin American establishment for modern artwork” and famous that the seek for a brand new creative director has already begun with the steerage of specialists. “The end result of this course of shall be communicated sooner or later,” the assertion concluded.
Based in 1953, Mambo is certainly one of Colombia’s main cultural establishments and has performed a central function in selling fashionable and modern artwork within the nation and the area. Viola’s departure comes at a time of inner transition. In recent times, the museum has undergone management modifications and administrative restructuring aimed toward strengthening its administration mannequin and monetary sustainability because it grapples with most of the similar challenges confronted by many personal cultural organisations throughout Latin America.
Since taking on as Mambo’s creative director in 2019, Viola has been concerned in curating greater than 50 exhibitions, a lot of them receiving nationwide and worldwide acclaim. His programme included reveals by the Chilean set up artist Voluspa Jarpa, the Mexican conceptual artist Teresa Margolles, the Guatemalan multi-disciplinary artist Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa and the Chilean artist Seba Calfuqueo, in addition to the primary exhibition in 30 years devoted to Óscar Muñoz, a key Colombian modern artist.
Earlier than shifting to Bogotá, Viola was a senior curator on the Perth Institute of Modern Arts in Western Australia and held varied curatorial positions on the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina in Naples. He curated the Italian Pavilion on the 2022 Venice Biennale and the twenty fourth Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala (till 15 February).
Viola didn’t say what function he may pursue subsequent, however did verify that he’ll transfer again to his hometown of Naples after ten years of dwelling and dealing overseas. He added that he’ll fulfil his current worldwide curatorial commitments.
