Whitney Museum Appoints Curators for 2028 Biennial
The Whitney Museum of American Art has announced the curators for its upcoming Biennial, set to launch in March 2028. The selection includes Meg Onli, who has been part of the Whitney since 2023, and Zack Winokur, a prominent figure in the performing arts sector.
Curator Profiles
Meg Onli, 42, previously organized the 2024 Biennial alongside Chrissie Iles, a veteran curator at the museum. Zack Winokur, 37, has transitioned from his role as the director of the performing arts program at Little Island, where he was active from 2024 until September of this year. This Biennial will mark Winokur’s debut in large-scale museum curation.
A Tradition of Innovation
The Biennial is renowned as America’s premier platform for emerging visual artists, spotlighting trending practices in contemporary art. As of yet, the curators have not disclosed the number of artists expected to participate; however, the 2026 exhibition featured 56 contributing artists and groups globally.
Exploration of New Ideas
While a specific theme has yet to be determined, Onli expressed her vision for the 2028 show to be “probably more experimental” than the previous edition. She drew inspiration from interdisciplinary collaborations, such as those between sculptor Isamu Noguchi and choreographer Martha Graham.
Director’s Vision
Scott Rothkopf, the museum’s director, emphasized the duo’s potential for innovation. “We aim to respect the traditional essence of the Biennial, while also introducing fresh and exciting concepts,” he stated. Rothkopf described Winokur as an “unexpected” yet inspired choice due to his audience-building skills, diverse programming perspectives, and close ties with artists from varied disciplines.
Curatorial Backgrounds
Before her tenure at the Whitney, Onli held positions at the Underground Museum in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. She co-curated the Whitney’s current exhibition “Roy Lichtenstein: Like New,” which has received critical acclaim, with The New York Times’ Jason Farago labeling it “the most momentous exhibition of the season.”
Winokur, a co-founder and artistic director of the American Modern Opera Company, is acclaimed for his collaborative ventures across music, theater, and dance. In September, he directed the performance “Both Ends” at Cherry Lane Theater, featuring cabaret artist Justin Vivian Bond.
A Fusion of Disciplines
The decision to pair an established museum curator with an outsider to the traditional art world is a notable departure from the Biennial’s history, which has predominantly featured curators who are career art historians since its inception in 1932.
Winokur acknowledged his surprise when Rothkopf first proposed the idea of the Biennial, articulating his aim to discover “collision points between various disciplines.” He highlighted his artistic breadth through performances at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and collaborative installations, including a project with artist Hugh Hayden and singer Davóne Tines for the Cooper Hewitt’s 2024 Triennial.
Future Directions
While the Biennial has primarily celebrated visual art, Winokur is determined to integrate performance into the exhibition. “Expect to see a strong presence of performance art,” he stated confidently.
Rothkopf expressed enthusiasm for the range of possibilities, noting that if the curators wished to showcase talents from other fields—such as film or fashion—alongside painters and digital artists, he would embrace the idea wholeheartedly.
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