Hirshhorn Museum appoints José Roca as curator of Latin American and Latin diasporic art
A New Era for the Hirshhorn Museum
On September 3, 2024, the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden announced the appointment of José Roca as the inaugural Estrellita B. Brodsky Curator at Large of Latin American and Latin Diasporic Art. This appointment marks a significant step in expanding the museum’s focus on Latin American art, as Roca will play a key role in enhancing the museum’s collection, exhibitions, and research related to Latin American and diasporic art.
Strengthening Latin American Art at the Hirshhorn
José Roca’s appointment is timely as the Hirshhorn reimagines its campus and deepens its collection to better reflect the nation’s rich tapestry of modern and contemporary art. Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu emphasized the importance of this role, stating, “José Roca arrives at a critical moment for the Hirshhorn as we reimagine our campus design and collection depths to increase access to the nation’s collection of modern and contemporary art.”
Roca’s involvement will help to expand the museum’s holdings and exhibitions, particularly in areas related to Latin American and Latin diasporic art. This move aligns with the museum’s mission to represent the diverse cultures that contribute to the broader narrative of modern and contemporary art.
A Visionary Appointment Backed by Leadership
The creation of this new position is supported by Estrellita B. Brodsky, chair of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s Board of Trustees. Brodsky has long been an advocate for Latin American art and culture, and her support for this appointment reflects her commitment to broadening the museum’s engagement with this vital area of contemporary art. She stated, “The addition of José Roca to their curatorial team will offer an even broader understanding of modern and contemporary art from across the Americas.”
José Roca’s Impact and Experience
José Roca brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His career spans multiple continents, having served as the artistic director of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney and managed FLORA ars+natura in Bogotá. His expertise in Latin American art is well established, with previous roles at the Tate in London and the Banco de la República in Bogotá.
Roca’s work has consistently focused on championing art from Latin America, both within the region and internationally. At the Hirshhorn, he will engage deeply with 20th- and 21st-century art from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, contributing to the museum’s mission of promoting contemporary art and artists.
The Hirshhorn’s Legacy and Future Direction
The Hirshhorn Museum has a long history of collecting works by international artists who are at the forefront of contemporary practice. Founder Joseph Hirshhorn’s initial gift in 1966 laid the foundation for a collection that includes significant works by artists like Fernando Botero, Lucio Fontana, and Rufino Tamayo. Over the years, the museum has continued to acquire works by leading contemporary artists from Latin America, further enriching its collection.
With José Roca’s appointment, the Hirshhorn is poised to deepen its engagement with regions that are producing some of the most dynamic and exciting work in contemporary art today. Roca’s expertise will be instrumental in shaping future acquisitions and curating exhibitions that bring the richness of Latin American art to the forefront.
About José Roca
José Roca (b. Barranquilla, 1962) is a Colombian curator. He was artistic director of rīvus, 23rd Biennale of Sydney, Australia, in 2022. From 2012 to 2022, he managed FLORA ars+natura, an independent space for contemporary art in Bogotá. He was the Estrellita B. Brodsky Adjunct Curator of Latin American Art at Tate, London (2012–2015), and curator of the LARA collection, Singapore (2012–2020). He managed the arts program at the Banco de la República in Bogotá (1994–2008) and was co-curator of the Poly/graphic Triennial in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2004), the 27th Bienal Internacional de Arte de São Paulo, Brazil (2006), and the Encuentro Internacional de Arte de Medellín MDE07 (2007). He was the artistic director of Philagrafika 2010 in Philadelphia and the head curator of the 8 Bienal do Mercosul in Porto Alegre, Brazil (2011). He is the coauthor of Transpolitical: Art in Colombia, 1992–2012 (with Sylvia Suárez); Waterweavers: A Chronicle of Rivers (with Alejandro Martín), published by the Bard Graduate Center in New York in conjunction with the exhibition Waterweavers: The River in Contemporary Colombian Visual and Material Culture (2014); and rīvus: A Glossary of Water (with Juan Francisco Salazar), published as a companion to the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. He is the coeditor of Time for Change: Art and Social Unrest in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection (with [NAME] Publications).
Roca served on the awards jury for the 52nd Venice Biennale (2007) and the Prince Claus Awards Committee (2012–2016). He was the Helena Rubinstein Curatorial Fellow at the Whitney Independent Study Program (2001–2002) and the Whitney-Lauder Curatorial Fellow at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia (2002–2003). He received the CIFO Curatorial Achievement Award in 2012 and the Montblanc de la Culture Prize in 2017. Roca lives in Bogotá.
About Estrellita B. Brodsky
Estrellita B. Brodsky, PhD, is a curator, collector and philanthropist and an advocate for artists and art from Latin America and its diaspora. Brodsky holds a doctorate in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University and a master’s from Hunter College. Her curatorial expertise spans exhibitions and extensive writings, particularly focusing on post–World War II Latin American artists. She currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and is a founding member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Latin American Art Initiative and the Tate Americas Foundation Latin American Art Committee. She has endowed curatorial positions in Latin American art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate, and the Museum of Modern Art. In 2015, she founded ANOTHER SPACE, a program and not-for-profit exhibition gallery dedicated to broadening international awareness and appreciation of art from Latin America and its diaspora.
About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the national museum of modern and contemporary art and a leading voice for 21st-century art and culture. Part of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn is located prominently on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Its holdings encompass one of the most important collections of postwar American and European art in the world. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs on the art of our time—free to all. The Hirshhorn Museum is open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm (except Dec. 25). For more information, visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Image: José Roca. Photo: Federico Bottia
