Biesenbach was born in 1966,[1] in Bergisch Gladbach, West Germany. From 1987, he began studying medicine in Munich. He moved to Berlin in the mid-1990s,[6] where he shared an apartment with artist Andrea Zittel at one point.[7]
Careeredit
Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Artedit
Biesenbach founded Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Art (KW)[4] in Berlin in 1991, as well as the Berlin Biennale in 1996, and remains Founding Director of both entities. Under his artistic and executive directorship, KW and the Berlin Biennale were started as self-inventive initiatives and are now federally and state funded institutions.[8]
MoMA, and MOMA PS1edit
Biesenbach joined MoMA PS1 as a curator in 1996; the museum's director Alanna Heiss had hired him part-time while allowing him to maintain his directorship in Berlin.[1] Working with Heiss, he created the "Warm Up" outdoor summer series of live music and helped found the "Greater New York" exhibition series, which showcases emerging talent in the metropolitan area.[9]
In 2004, Biesenbach was appointed as a curator in the MoMA's "Department of Film and Media". He was named Chief Curator of MoMA's newly formed Department of Media, in 2006; it was the first new curatorial department since photography, in 1940.[1] By 2009, it was subsequently broadened to the Department of Media and Performance Art to reflect the Museum's increased focus on collecting, preserving, and exhibiting performance art.[1] As Chief Curator of the department, Biesenbach led a range of pioneering initiatives, including the launch of a new performance art exhibition series; an ongoing series of workshops for artists and curators; acquisitions of media and performance art; and the Museum's presentation in 2010 of a major retrospective of the work of Marina Abramović.[10]
In addition to his role at MoMA, Biesenbach served as member of the International Jury at the Venice Biennale (1997) and as co-curator of the Berlin Biennale (1998) and 2002 Shanghai Biennale (2002).
During his time as director, Biesenbach introduced free admission to the museum with a $10 million gift from Carolyn Clark Powers,[13][14] founded the first Environmental Council at any American museum[15] and started the Performance Space Wonmi's Warehouse Programs[16] while commissioning Larry Bell's, Bill and Coo and Untitled by Barbara Kruger as public art projects.[17]
As part of a 2021 reorganization, Biesenbach was later named artistic director, with a mandate to focus on setting the artistic vision for the museum, overseeing exhibitions and collections. Shortly after, Johanna Burton was appointed as executive director.[21]
In addition, Biesenbach received the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) award for the exhibitions Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present, Pipilotti Rist: Pour Your Body Out (7354 Cubic Meters), and Fassbinder: Berlin Alexanderplatz. He also received AICA awards for co-curating the exhibitions Kenneth Anger, 100 Years (version #2, ps1, nov 2009), and Roth Time: A Dieter Roth Retrospective and 100 Years (version #2 PS1, Nov 2009) at MoMA PS1 and MoMA QNS, as well as Kenneth Anger (2009) at MoMA PS1 and 100 Years (version #2 PS1, Nov 2009) at MoMA PS1 and MoMA QNS, as well as Kenneth Anger (2009) at MoMA PS1.
Exhibitionsedit
Exhibitions organized and co-organized by Biesenbach at KW Institute for Contemporary Artedit
Exhibitions organized and co-organized by Biesenbach at Neue Nationalgalerieedit
Our Space to Help: Fundraiser at the Neue Nationalgalerie, initiated by Klaus Biesenbach, in collaboration with Anne Imhof and Olafur Eliasson (2022)[73]
Additional solo and group exhibitions organized and co-organized by Biesenbachedit
Installation by Kumiko Shimizu, Elisabethkirche, Berlin, co-organized (1991)[82]
Dialog im Bode Museum mit Isa Genzken, Klaus vom Bruch, Svetlana und Igor Kopystiansky, Strawalde, Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Bode-Museum Berlin (1992)[83]
Christo vor der Verhüllung, Marstall Berlin with Gabriele Muschter (1993)
Deutschland wird Deutscher, a project throughout Berlin organized in collaboration with Katharina Sieverding and UdK (1993)
Klaus Biesenbach, co-editor, 30 Years KW Berlin: A History, Berlin: Kunst-Werke.[89]
2019edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Bettina Funcke, MoMA PS1: A History. New York: Museum of Modern Art. ISBN 978-1-63345-069-1
2015edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Christophe Cherix, Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-1971. New York: Museum of Modern Art. ISBN 9780870709661
Klaus Biesenbach et al., Björk: Mid-Career Retrospective With New Commissioned Pieces for MoMA. New York: Museum of Modern Art. ISBN 9780870709609
2014edit
Klaus Biesenbach et al., 14 Rooms. Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz. ISBN 978-3-7757-3915-3
2013edit
Klaus Biesenbach et al., Christoph Schlingensief. London: Koenig Books. ISBN 3863354958
2010edit
Klaus Biesenbach, Neville Wakefield and Cornelia Butler: Greater New York 2010. New York: MoMA PS1, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9841776-2-2
Klaus Biesenbach, Agustin Perez Rubio, Beatrix Ruf and Ugo Rondinone: The Night of Lead: Ugo Rondinone. Edited by Beatrix Ruf, Osterlilden: Hatje Cantz, 2010. ISBN 978-3-7757-9006-2
Klaus Biesenbach and Mark Godfrey (Ed.): A Story of Deception: Francis Alÿs. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2009. ISBN 978-0-87070-790-2
2009edit
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): The Artist is Present: Marina Abramović. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2009. ISBN 978-0-87070-747-6
Klaus Biesenbach: Henry Darger. München/New York: Prestel, 2009. ISBN 978-3-7913-4210-8
Klaus Biesenbach, Michael Aupingen, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Cornelia H. Butler, Judith B. Hecker and William Kentridge: Five Themes: William Kentridge. Edited by Mark Rosenthal, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 2009. ISBN 978-0-300-15048-3
Klaus Biesenbach, Kelly Taylor and Jonathan Horowitz: And/Or. Edited by Lionel Bovier, Zürich: JRP Ringer, 2009. ISBN 978-3-03764-018-0
Klaus Biesennbach (Ed.): Political, Minimal. Nürnberg: Verlag für moderne Kunst, 2009. ISBN 978-3-941185-07-4
2008edit
Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramović, Chrissie Iles and Kristine Stiles: Marina Abramović. New York: Phaidon, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7148-4802-0
Klaus Biesenbach, Daniel Birnbaum, Jenny Dirksen, Philipp Fürnkäs, Kaye Geipel and Ulrike Groos: Julia Stoschek Collection Number One: Destroy, she said. Osterfilden: Hatje Cantz, 2008. ISBN 978-3-7757-2231-5
2007edit
Klaus Biesenbach, Peter Eleey, Glenn Lowry and Doug Aitken: Sleepwalkers: Doug Aitken. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2007. ISBN 978-0-87070-045-3
Klaus Biesenbach: Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Berlin Alexanderplatz. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2007. ISBN 978-3-8296-0253-2
Klaus Biesenbach, Georges Bataille and Susan Sontag: Into Me / Out of Me. Edited by Klaus Biesenbach, Ostfilden: Hatje Cantz 2007. ISBN 978-3-7757-2041-0
Klaus Biesenbach: In Bildern denken – Kunst, Medien und Ethik: Ist die Kunst den Medien noch gewachsen?. Regensburg: Lindinger + Schmid Kunstprojekte und Verlag, 2007. ISBN 978-3-929970-66-1
2006edit
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Timeline: Douglas Gordon. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2006. ISBN 978-0-87070-390-4
2005edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Alanna Heiss (Ed.): Close-Ups: Katharina Sieverding. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2005. ISBN 978-3-9804265-5-8
Klaus Biesenbach, Alanna Heiss and Anthony Huberman (Ed.): Animations. New York: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 2003. ISBN 978-3-9804265-0-3
Klaus Biesenbach, Mary Lea Bandy and Laurence Kardish (Ed.): Motion Pictures: Andy Warhol. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2005. ISBN 978-3-9804265-4-1
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Greater New York 2005. New York: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center 2005. ISBN 978-0-87070-987-6
Klaus Biesenbach and Matthew Monahan: Fragile Kingdom: Lara Schniger. Amsterdam: Artimo, 2005. ISBN 978-90-8546-001-5
Klaus Biesenbach, Vanessa Adler, Ellen Blumenstein and Felix Ensslin (Ed.): Zur Vorstellung des Terror: RAF. Göttingen: Steidl, 2005. ISBN 978-3-86521-102-6
2004edit
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Disasters of War: Henry Darger. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2004. ISBN 978-3-9804265-3-4
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Die Zehn Gebote. Osterfilden: Hatje Cantz, 2004. ISBN 978-3-7757-1453-2
2003edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Alanna Heiss (Ed.): Video Acts. New York: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 2003. ISBN 978-0-9704428-5-7
Klaus Biesenbach, Alanna Heiss and Anthony Huber (Ed.): Mexico City. New York: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 2003. ISBN 978-0-9704428-4-0
2001edit
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Loop - Alles auf Anfang. New York: Klaus Biesenbach for P.S. 1 / MoMA, 2001.
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): KW Magazine #02/01 Special Issue Mediarealities. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2001.
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): KW Magazine #01/01. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2001.
1997edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Emma Dexter: Chapmanworld. London: ICA London, Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 1997.
Klaus Biesenbach and Ulrike Grossarth: Reste vom Mehrwert: Ulrike Grossarth. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 1997.
1996edit
Klaus Biesenbach and Nicolas Schafhausen (Ed.): Nach Weimar. Osterfilden: Hatje Cantz, 1996.
1994edit
Klaus Biesenbach, Christine Hill and Barbara Steiner: Christine Hill. Berlin: Eigen+Art/ KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 1995.
Klaus Biesenbach and Harald Fricke (Ed.): Joseph Kosuth. Berlin Chronicle – A Temporary Media Monument for Walter Benjamin. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 1994.
1992edit
Klaus Biesenbach (Ed.): Berlin 37 Räume. Berlin: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 1992.
Selected recent contributionsedit
2018edit
Klaus Biesenbach, "We Had to Create Something New': Klaus Biesenbach on Inventing the Berlin Biennale," ARTNews, June 7, 2018[90]
Klaus Biesenbach, "In Puerto Rico, Artists Rebuild and Reach Out," The New York Times, January 25, 2018[91]
2016edit
"Klaus Biesenbach Recalls the Founding of KW in Berlin 25 Years Ago, a Moment of 'Radical Change and Freedom'," ARTNews, Nov. 25, 2016[92]
Klaus Biesenbach has also contributed texts to exhibition catalogs as well as edited volumes, and he has published articles in art journals, including Art & Australia, Artforum International, and Flash Art International. He wrote the monthly column "Erdkunde" for the German art magazine Monopol.
^Hickley, Catherine (10 September 2021). "Klaus Biesenbach named director of Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
^"P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center: News: Klaus Biesenbach Appointed Director of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center". Archived from the original on 29 October 2009.
^ ab"Veranstaltungen". KW Institute for Contemporary Art.
^"History - Berlin Biennale". blog.berlinbiennale.de. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
^Dorit Marschall (April 9, 2008), Klaus Biesenbach: Beschleunigtes Leben Handelsblatt.
^Jori Finkel (April 22, 2021), Inside Klaus Biesenbach's Unique Los Angeles Home W
^"P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center: News: Klaus Biesenbach Appointed Director of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center". Archived from the original on 29 October 2009.
^ abRobin Pogrebin (July 31, 2018), MOCA Chooses MoMA PS1 Director to Lead Museum New York Times.
^Nicholas Boston, "MoMA Gets Biesenbached In Euro-Curator Stampede," The New York Observer, February 11, 2007.
^Julia Chaplin (November 14, 2012), Curating a Relief Effort on the Beach New York Times.
^Robin Pogrebin (May 2, 2021), Amid Signs of Trouble, Can MOCA Find Its Footing? New York Times.
^"LA MOCA TO OFFER FREE ADMISSION STARTING JANUARY 11, 2020". artforum.com. 20 November 2019.
^"Environmental Council". www.moca.org. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^"LA MoCA to Launch Program Focused on Performance at Geffen Contemporary". www.artforum.com.
^"Barbara Kruger installs politically charged murals across Los Angeles". The Architect's Newspaper. 18 February 2020.
^ ab"Publications". Klaus Biesenbach. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^"Virtual MOCA". www.moca.org. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^"MOCA Masks". MOCA Store. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^Adam Nagourney (September 3, 2021), The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles Names a Co-Leader New York Times.
^Klaus Biesenbach is appointed as Director of Neue Nationalgalerie and the Museum of the 20th Century Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, press release of September 10, 2021.
^Adam Nagourney and Robin Pogrebin (September 10, 2021), Klaus Biesenbach Leaving Los Angeles Museum for Post in Berlin New York Times.
^Alex Greenberger (September 10, 2021), MOCA Los Angeles's Klaus Biesenbach Named Director of Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie ARTnews.
^Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu. "Our Space to Help: Fundraiser at the Neue Nationalgalerie". www.smb.museum. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu. "Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker | Rosas. Dark Red". www.smb.museum (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu. "Performance "254'". www.smb.museum (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Barbara Kruger: Bitte lachen / Please cry". berlin.de (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^Redaktion, CQS- (26 July 2022). "Sound in the Garden - Neue Nationalgalerie | DEEDS NEWS". DEEDS.NEWS. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"A Day in Greenery: A New Perspective on the Kulturforum". www.preussischer-kulturbesitz.de. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu. "Simone Forti". www.smb.museum (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Allora & Calzadilla: Stop, Repair, Prepare: Variations on "Ode to Joy" for a Prepared Piano - Announcements - e-flux". www.e-flux.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu. "Monica Bonvicini". www.smb.museum (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^l.lautenschläger, rolf (12 March 1992). "Keine halbtote Lebendigkeit". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). p. 24. ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^Castellanos, Ilia. ""Mauer im Kopf", Veranstaltungsreihe" (in German). Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^11 Rooms – Group Show, auf manchesterartgallery.org
^12 Rooms Live Art / Group Show 17 – 26 August 2012, auf museum-folkwang.de
^PROJECT 27 13 ROOMS, auf kaldorartprojects.org.au
^"30 Jahre KW in Bildern". KW Institute for Contemporary Art (in German).
^Biesenbach, Klaus (7 June 2018). "'We Had to Create Something New': Klaus Biesenbach on Inventing the Berlin Biennale". ARTnews.com.
^Biesenbach, Klaus; Gregory, Christopher; Mclaughlin, Ariana (25 January 2018). "In Puerto Rico, Artists Rebuild and Reach Out". The New York Times.
^Biesenbach, Klaus (25 November 2016). "Klaus Biesenbach Recalls the Founding of KW in Berlin 25 Years ago, a Moment of 'Radical Change and Freedom'". ARTnews.com.