Dominique Malaquais

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art mourns the death of Dominique Malaquais. A brilliant scholar, curator, and colleague, Malaquais explored with passion and insight the intersections between the arts, urban spaces, late capitalist market forces, and economic and political violence. She worked collectively, bringing together diverse voices and visionaries, particularly in relation to Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Within the U.S., her teaching positions included Sarah Lawrence, Trinity and Vassar Colleges, and Columbia and Princeton Universities. In recent years, she served as senior researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), as well as taught at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, both in Paris. Her recent publications include Kinshasa Chronicles (2019), which was accompanied by an exhibition showcasing emerging experimental Congolese artists, and Afrique-Asie: arts, espaces, pratiques (2016) with Nicole Khouri, among others. A frequent contributor to and associate editor of the pan-African journal, Chimurenga, Malaquais also served on the editorial boards for the arts journal, SAVVY and Politique Africaine. She will be missed.