Anaïs Castro is a curator and writer based in New York and Montreal. She holds a Masters in Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating and Criticism from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History from Concordia University. Over the years, she has held positions at esteemed institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada and Arsenal Contemporary Art in both Toronto and New York. Most recently, she served as Assistant Curator on Kapwani Kiwanga’s project Trinket for the Canada Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, collaborating closely with curator Gaëtane Verna.
With more than a decade of experience, Castro has curated over twenty exhibitions and projects across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and China. As a founding member of the curatorial collective The Department of Love, she has commissioned thought-provoking works and performances in Shanghai, London, and digital spaces. Her dedication to fostering critical dialogue and innovative artistic practices has led to her participation in prestigious residencies, such as the inaugural Shanghai Curators Lab (2018), Artpace in San Antonio (2019), and the International Studio & Curatorial Program in Brooklyn (2021), among others. She has been invited to speak at various institutions, including Parsons School of Art (New York), Triangle Arts Association (New York), Centre Clark (Montreal), The School of Visual Arts (New York), la Galerie de l’UQAM (Montreal) and others. She is an editorial member of Daily Lazy and publishes regularly with different publications.
Taking place over the course of two months, her residency will centre on an exploration of Portugal’s contemporary art scene, with a focus on its relationship to global discourses and its historical and cultural context. Central to her research is an innovative approach she terms “methodological collectivism,” which emphasizes the transformative power of collaboration. By engaging with artists, writers, and thinkers, she aims to establish a dynamic platform for critical exchange, positioning the residency as both a site of experimentation and intellectual growth. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Castro seeks to push the boundaries of curatorial practice, fostering new dialogues and deepening her engagement with art and culture.