Eugenio Viola has been appointed director of the Madre Museum in Naples, a homecoming for the Neapolitan, who was curator at large at the institution from 2009–2016.
Viola returns from a stint in Colombia where he served as artistic director of MAMBO – Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá. In February he left that job of seven years, alleging ‘deterioration of working conditions – concerns shared by several team members’.
He went on to allege, ‘Instead of conducting an internal review, the board dismissed these issues and terminated my contract… I leave with my integrity intact, having acted in good faith, supported my team and consistently maintained ethical standards.’
Under Viola’s direction, in which he was also chief curator, MAMBO’s stature grew, with shows that either canonised local names (such as the gallery’s first show in 30 years for Oscar Muñoz) or introduce Bogotanos to international artists (such as a residency and show for Brazilian two-spirit artist UÝRA in March and the frenetic new media work of Taiwanese artist Su Hui-Yu in October).
Reflecting on the role of museums for ArtReview, Viola recently wrote: ‘Museums safeguard histories at risk of being erased, make visible narratives excluded from official accounts and create conditions for critical thinking. But to fulfil this role, museums must situate themselves, through their programmes, at the heart of cultural debate, without fearing conflict, difference or dissent. Today’s visitors no longer come merely to witness exhibitions; they seek recognition of, resonance with and legitimacy for their own experiences. This demands a move away from singular, authoritative narratives towards spaces of listening, representation and symbolic negotiation – platforms upon which multiple voices can coexist, even when they are uncomfortable or contradictory.’
In 2025 Viola curated the Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala City and Antigua and the 2022 Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
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