Biography

Art historian and curator Catherine David is deputy director of the Musée national d’Art moderne (MNAM) and head of the Research and Globalisation department at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, where she has spearheaded an internationally diverse programme.

Her curatorial projects include Latiff Mohidin: Pago Pago (1960–1969), National Gallery Singapore (2018); Memories from the futures-Indian modernities, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2017); Dia Al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow), Mathaf and Al Riwaq, Doha (2017); Wifredo Lam, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2015); Iran 1960–2014, Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris and MAXXI, Rome (2014); ADACH Platform for Visual Arts, 53rd Venice Arts Biennale (2011) and Hassan Sharif: Experiments & Objects 1979–2011, Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi (2011).

She has written numerous books, including Marwan: 1962-1972 (Primeiras Obras/Early Works), co-authored with Suzanne Cotter (Serralves, 2014); Art & Language, co-authored with Alfred Pacquement (Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, 1993); and Simone Signoret (Overlook Books, 1990).

David received the Award for Curatorial Excellence from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, US (2018). She is a member of the advisory committee of the Saradar Collection, Beirut. Previously, she served as director of the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art, Rotterdam (2002–2004); artistic director for documenta X in Kassel, Germany (1997); curator of the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris (1990–1994); and curator at the Musée national d’Art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou (1982–1990).

David studied Spanish and Portuguese literature, linguistics and art history at the Université de la Sorbonne and the École du Louvre in Paris.
She was born in 1954 in Paris, where she continues to live and work.

SAF participation:
March Meeting 2018 and 2020

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