Sequences Biennial has selected curators Raphael Fonseca and Yina Jiménez Suriel as the artistic directors of the 13th edition of the festival, which will take place in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 1 to 10, 2027.
Raphael Fonseca is a curator and researcher with an interest in the intersections of art history, fiction, resilience, pleasure, and education, always through a transgeographical perspective. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and based in Denver, Colo., United States, Raphael serves as curator and head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art at the Denver Art Museum, a position he has held since 2021. He is a member of the curatorial team for the 3rd Counterpublic Triennial, scheduled to take place in St. Louis, Mo., United States, in 2026. He is also the curator of Taiwan’s representation at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, working with the artist Yi-Fan Li. Previously, Raphael served as the chief curator of the 14th Mercosul Biennial, held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from March to June 2025. Additional information about Raphael’s projects is available here.
Yina Jiménez Suriel is a curator and researcher whose work explores imagination, contemporary emancipatory processes, and the politics of movement. Born and based in the Dominican Republic, she is the Curator of The Current IV, a transdisciplinary curatorial program by Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary TBA21–Academy, and serves as Associate Editor for Latin America and the Caribbean at Contemporary And (C&). She was Adjunct Curator of the 14th Bienal do Mercosul, held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, between March and June 2025, and co-curator of the opening section of ARCOmadrid in 2023 and 2024. Her recent exhibition projects include other mountains, adrift beneath the waves (Ocean Space, Italy, 2025) and desde los azules (Kunsthalle Lissabon, Portugal, 2024). Additional information about Yina is available here.
“We are delighted and honored to curate Sequences in 2027,” said Raphael Fonseca and Yina Jiménez Suriel. “We believe this is an exceptional opportunity for us to learn about the art scene in Iceland and across the Nordic region. We also hope that, in parallel, our experiences, which have been predominantly working with artists from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the so-called Global South, can inform Iceland’s creative community. Collaboration is essential in both of our creative processes as curators, and we are eager to deepen it during the next two years in Reykjavík.“
Earlier this year, Sequences issued an open call for curators and received over 70 applications. After careful consideration, the Sequences board selected Raphael Fonseca and Yina Jiménez Suriel to develop the artistic framework for the 2027 festival.
“We are excited to work with Raphael and Yina, who bring a unique vision and international experience that will strengthen the festival and create new ways of engaging in dialogue about art and society,” said Tinna Guðmundsdóttir, head of the Sequences board.
The theme, participating artists, and additional details for the thirteenth edition of the festival will be announced on a rolling basis over the next two years.
Photos: Vikram Pradhan.