Terry E. Smith Books

This book offers an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of international curatorial practice and the insights that inform it. In five essays, art historian and critic Terry Smith explores how contemporary curators have expanded their roles beyond mere exhibition-making to include reimagining museums, documenting the history of curating, creating discursive platforms, engaging in social or political activism, and rethinking spectatorship. The publication was inspired by 'The Now Museum' conference, organized by ICI in collaboration with the CUNY Graduate Center and the New Museum in 2011. During this event, over 30 prominent artists, art historians, curators, and museum directors, including Claire Bishop, Okwui Enwezor, Massimiliano Gioni, Lu Jie, and Maria Lind, discussed the diversification of the concept of the 'museum of contemporary art,' offering intergenerational perspectives on recent developments in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This conference ignited a year-long exploration for Smith, prompting him to engage with various ideas, events, and encounters within the art world, ultimately questioning the contemporary definition of 'curating,' which is central to this publication.