Lewis Biggs is an independent curator (Folkestone Triennial 2014 & 2017, Aichi Triennale 2013) and International Advisor to Shanghai University (since 2011). He is Chairman of the Institute for Public Art, dedicated to the research, propagation and advocacy of artist-led urbanism.
After winning a scholarship to Oxford University (to study Modern History) Lewis’ gained his Master’s degree (with distinction) in Art History from the Courtauld Institute, University of London. He learned exhibition making at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, and Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol.
Lewis was Exhibitions Officer for the Visual Arts Department of the British Council 1984-1987, and UK commissioner for the Sao Paolo Bienal 1986. He was Curator of Exhibitions (1987-90), and then Director of Tate Liverpool (1990-2000). He was General Series Editor for Tate Modern Artists Series, Tate Publishing 2001-2014.
Lewis Biggs was a founder (1998) and then Artistic Director / CEO of Liverpool Biennial 2000-2011. The Biennial exhibitions focused on newly commissioned art, much of it site specific for the urban environment, researched collaboratively and realised by a team of locally based curators. The success of the 2002 Biennial contributed to the city of Liverpool winning, in 2003, its bid to be nominated European Capital of Culture 2008.
The Mondriaan Fund is delighted to present, in collaboration with Het Nieuwe Instituut’s Wednesday Night Live serie, a talk by Lewis Biggs ‘art-led urbanism’ at May 3 2017.