Meg Onli and Zack Winokur Named 2028 Whitney Biennial Curators
The Whitney Museum appoints a new curatorial team to lead its 83rd edition.
1Curatorial Team Appointment
The Whitney Museum of American Art has officially appointed Meg Onli and Zack Winokur to curate the 83rd edition of the Whitney Biennial. Scheduled to open in March 2028, this exhibition remains one of the most significant and frequently debated showcases of contemporary American art within the national cultural landscape today.
2Onli's Professional Background
Meg Onli brings extensive experience to the role, having co-curated the 2024 Biennial titled Even Better Than the Real Thing. Currently serving as the Nancy and Fred Poses Curator at the Whitney, she previously held leadership positions at the Underground Museum in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia.
3Winokur's Artistic Experience
Zack Winokur is the cofounder of the American Modern Opera Company and a former artistic director of Little Island. His background spans opera, theater, and dance, including directing productions at Opera Philadelphia. His recent work demonstrates a strong focus on interdisciplinary projects that bridge the gap between performance and visual arts.
4Previous Biennial Context
The 2026 Whitney Biennial, which concluded recently, attracted over 550,000 visitors and featured performances at Little Island. That edition, curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer, set a high bar for public engagement. The appointment of Winokur, who directed programming at that off-site venue, provides a sense of institutional continuity.
5Collaborative Curatorial Vision
Whitney director Scott Rothkopf described the partnership as a source of radical new vision for the museum. The curators aim to center the interaction between objects and people, fostering a dialogue that transcends traditional boundaries. Their shared goal is to champion artists while exploring experimental possibilities across various creative disciplines.
6Onli's Recent Projects
Beyond her Biennial work, Onli recently co-curated a major retrospective for Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein alongside Alex Da Corte. Critics have praised the exhibition as a stylish show that effectively examines the artist's engagement with our image-obsessed culture. This project highlights her ability to bring fresh perspectives to historical art.
7Interdisciplinary Artistic Approach
Winokur's career includes diverse collaborations, such as an installation for the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Triennial with artists Hugh Hayden and Davóne Tines. His work often integrates partnerships with fashion and media entities, such as Dior and A24, suggesting that the 2028 Biennial may incorporate unconventional production methods and artistic formats.
8Future Exhibition Expectations
As the museum prepares for the 2028 opening, the art world anticipates how this specific pairing will influence the Biennial's legacy. By combining Onli's deep institutional curatorial expertise with Winokur's background in performance and theater, the museum seeks to reinvent the exhibition format while maintaining its role as a cultural bellwether.
Original article: ARTnews — Meg Onli and Zack Winokur Named 2028 Whitney Biennial Curators