Adam Budak
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (October 2025) |
Adam Budak (1966) is a Polish curator and art critic known for his interdisciplinary approach to contemporary art. He holds a degree in theatre studies from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and in History and Philosophy of Art and Architecture from Central European University in Prague.
Since July 2025 Budak is the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK.[1]
Budak served as Artistic Director of Kestner Gesellschaft in Hanover (2020–2024),[2] where he developed an interdisciplinary curatorial programme focused on the notions of tenderness, anabasis, and amor mundi, and realised exhibitions that, amongst others, reflected the avant-garde legacy of El Lissitzky[3] and the topicality of the political thought of philosopher Hannah Arendt.[4] Previously, Budak was Artistic Director and Chief Curator of the National Gallery in Prague (2014–2020),[5] and has also held curatorial positions at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C.,[6] and Kunsthaus Graz.[7] From 1997 to 2002, he was Curator of Contemporary Art at Bunkier Sztuki Gallery in Kraków. He co-founded the first postgraduate curatorial studies in Poland at the Jagiellonian University and taught at its Institute of Public Affairs.[8]
Budak has curated numerous international biennials, including Manifesta 7(2008)[9] [10], the Gherdëina Biennale (2016[11], 2018[12], 2020[13]), the Prague Biennale (2003[14], 2005), and the Polish Pavilion (2003)[15], Estonian Pavilion (2013)[16], and Latvian Pavilion (2024)[17] at the Venice Biennale. He also served as a commissioner of the Czech and Slovak Pavilion (2017[18], 2018[19], 2019[20]). Some of his major curatorial achievements include the first Polish retrospective of Louise Bourgeois (Zachęta—National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, 2003)[21] or the first German exhibition of Paula Rego (Kestner Gesellschaft, Hanover 2023).[22]
Implementing the act of domestication in the biotope of an organic art institution, Adam Budak’s curatorial work focuses on the ecology of affect, the laws of hospitality and the poetics of critical intimacy. His interdisciplinary practice is informed by a sensitivity to space and performativity.[23]
Other activities
Budak has served on numerous international art juries and award committees, contributing to the selection and recognition of emerging and established artists. He is also active as a writer and editor, contributing to various publications and exhibition catalogues.
Publications (selection)
Louise Bourgeois: Geometry of Desire | Contributors: Louise Bourgeois, Adam Budak, Mieke Bal Publisher: Zachęta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw (2003)[24]
Monika Sosnowska: Loop | Authors: Monika Sosnowska (Artist), Will Bradley, Adam Budak, Friedemann Malsch, Jan Verwoert, Anthony Vidler Publisher: Walther König (2007)[25]
Pedro Cabrita Reis: True Gardens | Authors: Adam Budak, José Miranda Justo, Peter Pakesch Publisher: Walther König (2008)[26]
Tatiana Trouvé: Il Grande Ritratto | Contributors: Tatiana Trouvé, Adam Budak, Peter Pakesch, Maria Gough, Pamela M. Lee, Francesca Pietopaolo, Dieter Roelstraete Publisher: Walther König (2010)[27]
Generosity. The Art of Giving | Author: Adam Budak Editors: Adam Budak, Michaela Pejcochová Publisher: National Gallery Prague (2016)[28]
Katharina Grosse: Wunderbild | Editors/Contributors: Katharina Grosse (Artist), Adam Budak (Editor), Elisabeth Lebovici, Ulrich Loock, Chantal Mouffe, Michal Nanoru Publisher: Walther König (2018)[29]
Stanislav Kolibal: Former Uncertain Anticipated: Czech and Slovak Pavilion at 58th Venice Biennale | Authors: Stanislav Kolíbal, Dieter Bogner, Adam Budak, Juliet Bingham Publisher: National Gallery Prague (2019)[30]
Silences | Catalogue National Gallery Prague Artist: Jitka Hanzlová Editor: Adam Budak Publisher: Walther König (2019)[31]
Antje Majewski: The World of Gimel. How to Make Objects Talk | Editors: Antje Majewski, Adam Budak, Peter Pakesch Publisher: Sternberg Press (2020)[32]
References
- ↑ "Adam Budak appointed Director of MOCAK". e-flux.
- ↑ "Adam Budak wird neuer Direktor der Kestner Gesellschaft". Monopol (in German).CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "The New Man, The Announcer, The Constructor". e-flux.
- ↑ "Ich selbst, auch ich tanze. Sommer-Traum-Prélude zu Hannah Arendt". Kunstradius (in German).CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "National Gallery chief curator Adam Budak: I want to put the NG among the world's leading art institutions". Radio Prague International.
- ↑ "Hirshhorn Museum Staffs Up". Washington City Paper.
- ↑ "ADAM BUDAK". artlinkart.
- ↑ "Adam Budak appointed Director of MOCAK The Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków". call for curators.
- ↑ "Manifesta 7 reveals its artists Trentino, Italy". Flash Art.
- ↑ "Postcards from Manifesta". Frieze.
- ↑ "5th Biennale Gherdëina. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY". Biennale Gherdëina.
- ↑ "6th Biennale Gherdëina. WRITING THE MOUNTAINS". Biennale Gherdëina.
- ↑ "7th Biennale Gherdëina– a breath? a name? – the ways of worldmaking". Biennale Gherdëina.
- ↑ "Prague Biennale 1". artmap.
- ↑ "Metamorph, Venice - Announcements". e-flux.
- ↑ "The Contemporary Romantic". arterritory.
- ↑ "Towards radical hospitality". arterritory.
- ↑ "La Biennale di Venezia (2015)". 23 October 2017.
- ↑ "Kateřina Šedá: UNES-CO. - Announcements". e-flux.
- ↑ "Stanislav Kolíbal Will Represent the Czech Republic at the 2019 Venice Biennale". Artnews.
- ↑ "Wystawa Louise Bourgeois". Wyborcza (in Polish).CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "Paula Rego: There and Back Again. Der letzte Tanz". Artline (in German).CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "Adam Budak appointed director of MOCAK". ArtReview.
- ↑ Louise Bourgeois: Geometry of Desire. Zachęta National Gallery of Art. 2003. p. https://zacheta.art.pl/en/dokumentacja-i-biblioteka/publikacje/louise-bourgeois-geometria-pozadania?setlang=1. ISBN 978-8389145208. Search this book on
- ↑ Sosnowska, Loop. Walther König. 2007. ISBN 978-3865602312. Search this book on
- ↑ Reis, Pedro Cabrita (2008). Pedro Cabrita Reis: True Gardens. Buchhandlung Walther König. ISBN 978-3865603913. Search this book on
- ↑ Trouvé, Tatiana (2010). Tatiana Trouvé: Il Grande Ritratto. Walther König. ISBN 978-3865607539. Search this book on
- ↑ Generosity. The Art of Giving. National Gallery Prague. 2016. ISBN 978-8070356067. Search this book on
- ↑ Katharina Grosse: Wunderbild. Walther König. 2018. ISBN 978-3960984351. Search this book on
- ↑ Stanislav Kolíbal: former uncertain indicated. London: Koenig Books. 2019. ISBN 978-3960985112. Search this book on
- ↑ Silences. Walther König. p. https://raffaellacortese.com/artist/jitka-hanzlova/. Search this book on
- ↑ The World of Gimel. Sternberg Press, Kunsthaus Graz. 2011. ISBN 978-1934105726. Search this book on
External links
Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK
School of Visual Arts NYC. The Curatorial Roundtable: Adam Budak
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