Elvira Dyangani Ose has been appointed as the new artistic director of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town, taking over from the late visionary curator Koyo Kouoh. Following Kouoh's sudden passing in May 2025, Dyangani Ose will bring her expertise and vision to the museum, with a focus on engaging directly with artists across the continent.

“I’ll go to Johannesburg, or Accra, or Kumasi, or Nairobi,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to understanding the contexts from which African art emerges. This appointment marks a new chapter for Zeitz MOCAA as it continues to explore and showcase contemporary African art.

In other arts news, SF Camerawork has announced its abrupt closure after 52 years, surprising members of its community. Meanwhile, Brian Karl reviews the Hammer Museum’s exhibition featuring ‘living materials’—avocado, cacao, achiote, and natural dyes.

Elsewhere in the world, Poh Si Teng’s documentary 'American Doctor' premiered at Sundance, offering an unflinching look into the horrors faced by humanitarian physicians in Gaza. The film uses on-the-ground footage from Alef Multimedia to document the under-resourced conditions in Khan Younis hospital.

For artists and art lovers, there are opportunities aplenty: the Bennett Prize is open for applications until September 19th, offering a grand prize of $75,000 and a solo exhibition. The world of contemporary African art moves forward with these changes and new challenges.