Antonio Cataldo appointed Dean at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts

After six years, our Artistic Director is pursuing new opportunities as Dean of the Academy of Fine Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, starting August 2024.

Since August 2018, Antonio Cataldo’s programme has emphasised how artistic photography plays an essential role in society. With a strong interest in visual cultures and representation, Cataldo has during his time at Fotogalleriet been responsible for a critical, international investigation of contemporary photography, across generations.

Over the past six years, Fotogalleriet’s board has transformed our institutional practices through a revision of our bylaws, a comprehensive and inclusive strategy process, emphasising the importance of collaboration.

Cataldo has actively participated in this process by creating meaningful local networks with organisations such as TrAP, VEGA Scene, Balansekunst, Oslo World, Masahat and Agenda X, and internationally by participating in the launch of the First European Assembly of Contemporary Art Centres and securing a place for Fotogalleriet in the leading photography platform FUTURES. Cataldo has created a unique curatorial fellowship programme (supported by Kulturrådet, Bergensensenstiftelsen and Fritt Ord) and established our Youth Council (supported by TrAP, Kulturtanken and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB). Cataldo has constantly cared for Fotogalleriet’s history through publications, strengthened the institution’s audience reach across the country with projects that extend far beyond our premises in Møllergata in Oslo, and contributed to the national network Kunsthallene i Norge – where Fotogalleriet currently holds the Chair.

During his time as Artistic Director, Cataldo has also completed their PhD in Practice in Curating at Zurich University of the Arts/the University of Reading, and in 2022 their defended their thesis Curating Labour – Troubles with Gender and Dispossession in the Exhibition Space. A Circular Movement on Historical Traces.

Thank you, Antonio, for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with us! Fotogalleriet’s board and staff would like to congratulate both Cataldo and the Academy of Fine Arts!

The news are also available at Oslo National Academy of Arts website. You can read it here! 

The board of Fotogalleriet will shortly start the recruitment of a new Artistic Director.

On behalf of the Board of Fotogalleriet,

chairperson Anne Szefer Karlsen