Oftentimes, curators receive unsolicited curatorial feedback from patrons and collectors, but not so much from audience members. Unless they have proximity to the artist, that is, and even then, it is incredibly difficult to strike up a conversation about the artworks in either a museum or a commercial gallery space. Inevitably, it boils down to the visual and theoretical underpinnings of an exhibition space as well as its purpose articulated by the curatorial team or head curator.
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), however, provides so much more than an exhibition space with the structures in place for those conversations. This, under the guidance of executive director and chief curator, Koyo Kouoh – the first black woman to be appointed as the curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition in 2026 taking place in Venice, Italy – and Dr Greer Valley, who was recently appointed as senior curator at Zeitz MOCAA.
Since its launch in September 2017, Zeitz MOCAA has solidified itself globally as an arts institution. It has hosted several exceptional exhibitions and programmes, including some of Africa’s best thinkers, writers, artists, musicians, and academics, surpassing local and international art critics and collector’s expectations.
When the museum was established, Greer was completing her Masters in Visual Studies at the University of Stellenbosch. A qualified architect with a PhD in Art History and Curatorial Studies from the University of Cape Town, she made a seemingly unconventional decision to then pursue an art degree at the height of South Africa’s #FeesMustFall movement.
At that time, the political current was palpable across South African universities, inspiring Greer to co-curate and begin a site-specific intervention on the campus of Stellenbosch University, uniting different communities and voices through #OpenForum. Narrating actual and real experiences of students and artists on campus through this forum was probably one of her bravest moments – and perhaps a necessary disruption. In fact, when the Cecil Rhodes statue was toppled over by students at the University of Cape Town, Greer was in attendance. When she launched #OpenForum, the event’s discussion was centred around the theme ‘The Art of Social Justice’.
It is no surprise then, that her appointment at Zetiz MOCAA comes at a time when the museum is undergoing exciting changes. The spark in her eyes when discussing them speaks volumes, a calm yet youthful look of someone who knows something we don’t.
She speaks fondly of Koyo – who she says is the reason she got the appointment – from a professional standpoint as well as a kindred spirit that is both rare and reciprocated when given with respect and trust. Koyo later mentions Greer’s detailing her contribution to scholarship in exhibition-making practices as well as museology. “The curatorial and scholarly work of Dr Valley has been shining through our field over the past decade. It’s an incredible privilege that we could encourage her to join the museum. Her contribution will strengthen our mission and deepen our theoretical ambitions,” she says.
With a formidable team behind her, the dynamic nature of Greer’s curatorial plans become more nuanced. She does not shy away from the city’s visible issues, and points out the museum’s plans to tap into the local ecosystem for further collaboration.
As senior curator, Greer has the difficult task of curating a series of exhibitions, accommodating the many facets of the city, its people, and its supporters – a tall order but one that is necessary for this gentle woman. She is built for it.
