Commencing with the 2017 edition, Philipp Kaiser, independent curator and critic, will curate the Public sector of Art Basel in Miami Beach, succeeding Nicholas Baume, Director and Chief Curator of Public Art Fund, New York, who curated the sector from 2013 to 2016. Situated in Miami Beach’s Collins Park, the Public sector each year presents site-specific sculptures and performances by both established and emerging artists from across the globe.

Philipp Kaiser is an independent curator and critic, who has previously served as the Director of the Museum Ludwig, Cologne (2012-2014); Senior Curator and Curator at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (2007-2012); and Head of Contemporary Art at Kunstmuseum Basel / Museum für Gegenwartskunst (2002-2007). Swiss-born and Los Angeles-based, Kaiser has curated numerous noteworthy exhibitions throughout his career and was recently announced as the curator of ‘Women of Venice – Carol Bove and Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler’ at the Swiss Pavilion of the 57th Venice Biennale (2017). He is also curating the inaugural exhibition at the Marciano Foundation in Los Angeles next year. In addition to his curatorial work, Kaiser has lectured extensively on the subject of art history, edited publications and written catalogue essays, reviews and articles throughout his career.

Noah Horowitz, Director Americas of Art Basel, commented: 'We are delighted to welcome Philipp Kaiser as the new curator for the Public sector of Art Basel in Miami Beach and are hugely grateful to Nicholas Baume for the significant contributions he has made to the sector over the past four years. Philipp Kaiser’s extensive curatorial background and deep knowledge of contemporary artistic practice will bring an exciting new vision and global perspective to this dynamic sector.'

On his appointment as curator of Public, Kaiser said: 'I have always found Public to be a fascinating sector of the show in Miami Beach because of the opportunities it presents to artists and galleries, and am honored to have the chance to build upon the successes achieved by my predecessors in this role. I look forward to the challenge of curating a thematic outdoor exhibition that transforms and re-envisions Collins Park, and engages Art Basel’s audiences, as well as the broader Miami Beach community.'