New Director for Bonniers Konsthall

Magnus af Petersens has been appointed the new director of Bonniers Konsthall, the Stockholm art museum, replacing Sara Arrhenius, who has held the position since the Konsthall first opened in 2006 and this spring becomes vice chancellor of the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm. Af Petersens officially assumes the role on April 1, 2017.

Af Petersens most recently held the position of head of exhibitions and collections at Moderna Museet, the contemporary art museum in Stockholm. Prior to that, he served as chief curator of Whitechapel Gallery, London, in addition to curating The Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2011.

“Bonniers Konsthall is primarily an establishment for contemporary art, where artists are provided with the incredible opportunity to produce new works,” says af Petersens. “Very few institutions have the same capacity to react quite as quickly and place international art in a national context. This is what sets Bonniers Konsthall apart from the rest. It will be fantastically fun to work with the Bonniers Konsthall team.”

Bonniers Konsthall was established by the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which Jeanette Bonnier founded in 1985 in memory of her daughter Maria. Bonniers Konsthall has since served as home of the foundation’s annual grant.

Pontus Bonnier, Chair of the Board of Bonniers Konsthall, along with the entire board, reached a unanimous decision to choose af Petersens for this role.

“We are delighted to entrust Magnus af Petersens with the role of further developing Bonniers Konsthall,” says Pontus Bonnier. “With an international network, extensive relationships with artists and the public, and a wealth of experience managing exhibitions and creating museum programs, we feel he is well qualified. Above all, we believe that the combination of Magnus’ experience of and passion for contemporary art will infuse Bonniers Konsthall with an exciting energy and vitality.”

Bonniers Konsthall, located in central Stockholm, is a place for Swedish and international contemporary art. Since first opening its doors in 2006, Bonniers Konsthall has exhibited and discussed art from the world over. The current exhibition, Insomnia, addresses sleeplessness as a cultural symptom.