Allison Glenn (photo by Grace Roselli)
Allison Glenn has been named as the curator of the 2026 Toronto Biennial of Art.
Based in New York, Glenn is a curator and writer. She is currently the artistic director of Detroit’s The Shepherd, and she holds a bachelor of fine art degree in photography with a co-major in Urban Studies from Wayne State University in Detroit.
"Allison has a strong track record of collaborating with artists to develop ambitious ideas and realize transformative projects,” said Patrizia Libralato, the biennial’s founder and executive director in a news release.
“She has focused on art in public spaces as a means to connect intergenerational audiences with impactful and accessible contemporary art. Her thoughtful approach, as well as her deep interest in Canada having grown up in nearby Detroit, will no doubt allow her to seamlessly work with artists and partners from across the country as well as internationally.”
The biennial’s curatorial selection committee includes the 2024 co-curators Dominique Fontaine and Miguel A. López, plus the 2019 and 2022 senior curator, Candice Hopkins, as well as Camille Usher, Léuli Eshrāghi, and Elvira Dyangani Ose.
Glenn will also be collaborating with the biennial’s new National Curatorial Advisory. It includes David Diviney, Chief Curator, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia; Eva Respini, Deputy Director and Director of Curatorial Programs at the Vancouver Art Gallery; Heather Igloliorte, Canada Excellence Research Chair, Professor, University of Victoria; Léuli Eshrāghi, Curator of Indigenous Practices at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal; and Michelle Jacques, Director of Exhibitions and Collections/Chief Curator at the Remai Modern.
“Through the advisory, TBA is forging new partnerships with institutions across Canada, strengthening the biennial’s mission to create an international platform for Canadian artists that remains grounded in unique Canadian experiences,” according to the news release.
The next Toronto biennial will take place from September to December 2026.
Source: Toronto Biennial of Art
