Qatar Museums (QM) has appointed Nigerian curator Azu Nwagbogu as the Artistic Director of Tasweer 2027, the fourth edition of the country’s photography biennial. This upcoming edition marks the first to be held under the auspices of QM’s future Art Mill Museum and is scheduled to open in April 2027.

Nwagbogu, an internationally recognised figure in the art world, is known for his curatorial work focusing on themes of decolonisation, restitution, and repatriation. He is the founder of both the LagosPhoto Biennale and the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), a Lagos-based non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting contemporary African art, social justice, and cultural dialogue. His previous curatorial projects have been presented globally, including at Brussels’ Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR), Rencontres d’Arles, PhotoEspaña in Madrid, and the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, where he curated the inaugural Benin Pavilion in 2024.

Catherine Grenier, director of the Concept of Art Mill Museum, welcomed Nwagbogu’s appointment, highlighting his extensive international experience and network. She noted that Tasweer 2027 will build on the foundations laid by the biennial’s previous artistic directors, Charlotte Cotton (2021 and 2023) and Meriem Berrada (2025), anticipating that Nwagbogu’s vision will shape a compelling and engaging edition.

Khalifa Al Obaidly, director of Tasweer 2027, emphasized Nwagbogu’s unique perspective on photography, rooted in his strong connections to the Global South, particularly Africa, and his ability to engage visual storytellers from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. He expressed confidence in Nwagbogu’s capability to produce a biennial that celebrates diverse photographic practices across these regions.

In accepting the role, Nwagbogu acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors while underscoring the evolving nature of imagery in a digital age. He stressed the importance of Tasweer as a platform to explore new visual languages with ethical and intellectual rigor.

Tasweer, which debuted in 2021, serves as a major platform for photography and visual culture in Qatar and the broader region. It fosters connections among photographers, artists, curators, and audiences from the Middle East and beyond and provides a forum for examining the ongoing evolution of photography as a medium.

Further details regarding Tasweer 2027, including the artistic program and participating artists, will be released in the months leading up to the exhibition, which will run from April through June 2027.