Zoë Ryan curates 2nd Istanbul Design Biennial

Dec 20, 2013 by Jennifer Krichels

With her appointment as curator of the second Istanbul Design Biennial, set to take place from October 18 to December 14, 2014, British-born, U.S.-based Zoë Ryan is helping shape one of the most important new design events even as she approaches her third year as chair and curator of architecture and design at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Launched in 2012 with curators Joseph Grima and Emre Arolat and director Özlem Yalım Özkaraoğlu, Istanbul’s first Design Biennial made a splash, yet left room to unite a broader segment of Turkey’s architecture community and further solidify the country’s role on the international design stage. Under new director Deniz Ova, Ryan has rallied a team, including associate curator Meredith Carruthers and Turkish design studio Superpool, that will help transform Istanbul’s Galata Greek Primary School into the epicenter of the event and develop a visual identity along with New York–based Project Projects. Ryan spoke with RECORD on the heels of announcing the 2014 biennial’s theme.

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Ms. Ryan and her curatorial colleagues in the Department of Architecture and Design, Art Institute of Chicago were recently awarded SAH's Award for Architectural Excellence in Architectural Stewardship.