Frances (they/them) is a curator and researcher.
Influenced by W.J.T. Mitchell’s idea that “pictures want to be kissed”, they believe that art longs for interaction and emotional resonance—not distance or reverence. They seek to challenge the idea of art as an incomprehensible form that requires a special “key” for understanding. Instead, they want to shift the focus to its magical invocation of feelings and lived experiences. By inviting audiences to engage emotionally, they hope to create museal spaces that bring about opportunities for connection, without elitist judgement.
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
Research Curator, May 14–November 8, 2024, Deichtorhallen Hamburg.
With works by Panteha Abareshi, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Yalda Afsah, Abbas Akhavan, Assemble & AAU Anastas, Mohamed Bourouissa, Andrea Bowers, James Bridle, Julian Charrière, Sam Chermayeff Office, Edith Dekyndt, Simon Denny, Cao Fei, Liam Gillick, Lubaina Himid, Kablusiak, Leon Kahane, Paul Kolling, Sharon Lockhart, Goshka Macuga, Taus Makhacheva, Jota Mombaça, Shaun Motsi, New Red Order (NRO), Olaf Nicolai, Christelle Oyiri, Céline Pagès, Trevor Paglen, Grayson Perry, Shlomo Pozner, Bruno Serralongue, Jeremy Shaw, Charles Stankievech, Thomas Struth, Ron Terada, Emmanuel Van der Auwera, Syrus Marcus Ware.
Nominated for Exhibition of the Year 2025 by art – Das Kunstmagazin
miscellaneous
“Brainrot”, “Manosphere” & “Zynternet”
Texts for the second Agency in Media booklet, on the occasion of “States of Rebirth”, February 21–August 17, 2025 at PHOXXI, Contemporary House of Photography, Hamburg.
CCI Curatorial Trip to Belfast & Dublin
November, 2024. Hosted by the Centre Culturel Irlandais as part of Zeitgeist Ireland 2024, allowing to engage with more than 25 practicing artists in Ireland as well as visit a dozen galleries, studio hubs and museums.
2023. Facilitator for two international fellows in Hamburg.
Storytelling through Museum Design
Recurring since 2022. Workshop for Media Dramaturgy (M.A.) students at University Mainz, conducted with Viktor Hois.
EDUCATION
Exhibition Management, 2022–2024, Deichtorhallen Hamburg.
Projects: Tom Sachs — A Space Program, Currency — Photography Beyond Capture, In The Heart of Another Country, Sarah Morris — All Systems Fail, Dix and the Present, Franz Gertsch — Blow-Up.
Master of Arts, 2021, University Göttingen.
Bachelor of Arts, 2017–2020, University Mainz.