Malta Biennale 2028
Rosa Martínez Returns as Artistic Director for the Malta Biennale 2028
Following an international call for applications that attracted more than 110 curators from 48 countries, the Malta Biennale Foundation has announced the appointment of Rosa Martínez as Artistic Director for the third edition of the Malta Biennale. This marks the second time the renowned international curator will take on the role, following her acclaimed tenure at the Malta Biennale 2026.
Rosa Martínez brings with her extensive curatorial experience and an impressive international career. In 2005, she served as Artistic Director of the Venice Biennale, becoming the first female curator in the history of the event to hold the position, with her exhibition Always a Little Further at the Arsenale.
She has also served as Artistic Director and Curator for biennales in Barcelona (1988–1992), Rotterdam (1996), Istanbul (1997), Santa Fe, New Mexico (1999), Busan, South Korea (2000), São Paulo (2006) and Moscow (2005–2007). Between 2004 and 2007, she was Chief Curator at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. Her career includes organising significant exhibitions for institutions such as the Guggenheim Bilbao (2007), the Museo Nacional de Escultura in Valladolid, Spain (2015), the Centro Cultural Metropolitano in Quito, Ecuador (2017) and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona (2019), among others.
In Malta, alongside her role as Artistic Director of the second edition of the Malta Biennale, Martínez curated the Constellation Malta project in 2018, during Valletta’s tenure as European Capital of Culture. In 2022, she also curated LE.IVA, a solo exhibition by Maltese artist Austin Camilleri at Spazju Kreattiv.
Speaking about her appointment, Martínez said:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the consolidation of the Malta Biennale as a relevant artistic platform. Sharing my experience and curatorial vision to foster meaningful dialogues between innovative aesthetic trends, contemporary thought, and the fascinating cultural heritage of the Maltese archipelago is both a pleasure and a challenge. I look forward to continuing to explore and expand the transformative power of art from this unique, complex and radiant epicentre of the Mediterranean.”
Following Martínez’s appointment, the next steps will include developing the Biennale’s curatorial theme and selecting the historical sites that will host the event. This will be followed by international calls for artists and pavilions, alongside activities related to the Biennale.
The third edition of the Malta Biennale will take place between March and May 2028, across various historical sites and museums managed by Heritage Malta throughout Malta and Gozo.
