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The Whitney Museum of American Art has named Meg Onli and Zack Winokur co-curators of the 2028 Whitney Biennial, scheduled to open in March 2028. Onli co-curated the 2024 edition; Winokur is known for work across opera, theater, dance and visual arts. The museum has not yet announced the exhibition’s artists, theme or full program.
The Whitney Museum of American Art has appointed Meg Onli and Zack Winokur as co-curators of the 2028 Whitney Biennial, the museum announced November 6. The exhibition is scheduled to open in March 2028; it will be Onli’s second Biennial and the first for Winokur, whose work has focused on performing arts and interdisciplinary production.
Onli joined the Whitney as curator-at-large in 2023 and co-curated the 2024 Biennial, “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” with Chrissie Iles. She was promoted that year to the Nancy and Fred Poses Curator, with responsibility for leading the museum’s painting and sculpture acquisition committee. Before the Whitney, she directed and curated the Underground Museum in Los Angeles and worked as an associate curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania.
Winokur co-founded the American Modern Opera Company, an interdisciplinary collective of 17 singers, musicians, dancers and other performing artists. He has also served as artistic director of Little Island on Pier 55 and of NYPopsUp, a statewide initiative launched to open performing-arts spaces after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Whitney’s director, Scott Rothkopf, described the pair as bringing experience in visual art and performance to the exhibition.
The 2028 edition is identified as the 83rd Biennial. The museum has not released a list of participating artists or described the exhibition’s subject, format or accompanying events. The appointment establishes the curatorial team well ahead of opening, but the specific direction of the show has yet to be made public.
A Biennial Built Across Art Forms
The appointment pairs a curator with direct experience of the Whitney’s recent Biennial with an artistic director whose practice spans opera, theater, dance and visual art. That combination gives the curators a range of experience to draw on as they shape an exhibition often used to present recent developments in American art.
Rothkopf said the partnership promises a “radical new vision” for the Biennial. That is the museum director’s characterization, not a description of a plan already published by the curators. The announcement does not specify how performance might figure in the show, or whether Winokur’s background will lead to a particular format. The significance for visitors will become clearer when the museum shares the curators’ selections and the exhibition’s structure.
The Biennial’s institutional reach also gives the choice weight beyond the two appointments. The exhibition has included more than 3,600 artists over its history, according to the source report. Its curatorial decisions can bring attention to artists and practices selected for a major museum survey, though the effect of this edition cannot be assessed before its participants and work are known.
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Onli’s Return to the Biennial
Onli’s appointment follows her work on the 2024 edition with Chrissie Iles. That exhibition, titled “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” was her first Biennial as a co-curator. Her return means the 2028 team includes someone familiar with the museum’s process for organizing the recurring survey, while Winokur brings experience from performance organizations and public programming.
The Biennial dates to 1932 and is described as the longest-running survey of American art. The source report also places this announcement shortly after the 2026 Biennial closed. It notes that Whitney unionized staff ratified a second contract shortly before a planned strike, securing changes including a new wage floor, increased parental and bereavement leave, and stronger safety provisions. That labor development is separate from the curatorial announcement; the museum has not said it will affect the 2028 exhibition.
“Their partnership promises a radical new vision for the 2028 Biennial.”
— Scott Rothkopf, Whitney Museum director
Artists and Exhibition Plan Pending
The Whitney has not announced the participating artists, title, theme or exhibition layout. It is also not clear whether the 2028 Biennial will include live performances, commissions or other programming tied to Winokur’s performing-arts work. The curators’ statements indicate an interest in developing ideas through conversations with artists, but do not confirm any specific selections or format.
The opening is scheduled for March 2028, but details beyond that date are not provided in the source report. Further information about public programs, exhibition dates and related events remains outstanding.
Details Expected Before Opening
The next confirmed milestone is the Biennial’s scheduled March 2028 opening. Before then, the museum is expected to share more about the exhibition, including its participating artists and program, but the source report gives no dates for those announcements. Until then, the scope and practical form of Onli and Winokur’s collaboration remain open.
Key Questions
Who will curate the 2028 Whitney Biennial?
Meg Onli and Zack Winokur will co-curate the exhibition, the Whitney Museum announced November 6.
When does the 2028 Whitney Biennial open?
The 83rd edition is scheduled to open in March 2028. The source report does not provide a specific opening day.
What is known about the exhibition’s artists or theme?
The museum has not yet announced the participating artists, title or theme. Onli said the curators would explore the Biennial’s possibilities and see where conversations with artists lead.
What experience do the co-curators bring?
Onli co-curated the 2024 Whitney Biennial and has held curatorial roles at the Whitney and other institutions. Winokur co-founded the American Modern Opera Company and has led artistic programming at Little Island and NYPopsUp.
Source: hyperallergic.com
