Media release
Zeitz MOCAA Welcomes Two New Art and Culture Luminaries to its Global Council, and Announces Founding Member Michèle Sandoz as Senior Strategic Advisor: Global Patronage
(Cape Town, Thursday, 30 April 2026): Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) is honoured to welcome Lidija Khachatourian (Italy/UAE) and Suzanne McFayden Smith (Jamaica/USA) to its Global Council. These industry luminaries join this international artist-centric network of artists, curators, philanthropists, and business leaders dedicated to advancing Zeitz MOCAA’s mission to present, promote and preserve cutting edge contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. As a non-voting group, members serve as vital advocates for the museum internationally, participating in global activities and contributing financially to the museum’s programmes and operations.
Lidija Khachatourian is the Founder and Director of AKKA (A Kostic Khachatourian Art) Project, a platform dedicated to promoting contemporary African art across global markets. Of Serbian-Armenian descent, born in Serbia and raised in Switzerland, her background has shaped her international perspective and deep appreciation for diverse cultural narratives. Khachatourian's life took a transformative turn when she moved to Dubai in 2008 with her family where her passion for contemporary African art began to flourish through extensive travel across Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, her curatorial expertise was recognised when she was appointed curator of the National Pavilion of Mozambique at the 58th Venice Biennale. Khachatourian also founded Art and About Africa, a digital platform that maps the contemporary African art ecosystem, connecting practitioners, galleries, and art spaces across geographies. She continues to support artists in ways that expand their artistic vocabulary while remaining true to their vision.
Suzanne McFayden Smith is an author, prominent collector of modern and contemporary art, and a committed philanthropist supporting humanitarian initiatives worldwide. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she holds a BA in French Literature from Cornell University and an MFA in Writing from Mills College. In 2009, she was awarded a residency at Hedgebrook and returned as an alumna in 2020. Her philanthropic work focuses on expanding access and opportunity for women and children globally, with a particular emphasis on addressing food insecurity. McFayden Smith serves on the boards of the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas, Austin, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, and contributes to Pratt Institute’s DEIA Committee. As one of the few independent female collectors in the art world, her collection reflects her multifaceted identity, centring artists and narratives that resonate with her lived experience and commitment to representation.
The new additions bring the contingent to 27 diverse and distinguished advocates, including Founding Global Council Members Acha Leke (Chair), Bame Pule, Julie Mehretu, Michèle Sandoz, Pulane Tshabalala Kingston, Samallie Kiyingi, Wangechi Mutu, and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Together they represent an international network of artists, curators, art philanthropists, and businesspeople dedicated to studying and showcasing artistic and intellectual excellence from Africa and its diaspora.
Michèle Sandoz is a Zurich-based strategic advisor and founder of artmatters, an independent advisory practice working internationally across Europe, Asia and Africa at the intersection of contemporary art, patronage and cultural governance. Her work builds on senior leadership roles across the international art world, including Art Basel, where she shaped global patron engagement and strategy. A founding member of the Zeitz MOCAA Global Council, she now serves as Senior Strategic Advisor: Global Patronage at Zeitz MOCAA, working across the museum’s leadership and advancement functions and providing strategic guidance to the Council, contributing to the institution’s broader patronage and international positioning.
The international expertise and commitment to cultural advocacy that Lidija Khachatourian and Suzanne McFayden Smith bring to the Global Council will be invaluable as we strengthen Zeitz MOCAA’s position as a leading voice for contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Equally, Michèle Sandoz’s transition into her new role is vital to expanding our global patronage and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our mission.
As Zeitz MOCAA approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, the Global Council remains foundational to the museum’s international reach. What began as a bold vision for a Pan-African and Pan-Diasporic institution has evolved into a world-class platform supported by advocates dedicated to preserving the continent’s creative heritage. By bridging global philanthropy with local excellence, the Council ensures that Zeitz MOCAA continues to serve as a vital sanctuary for contemporary African narratives, entering its second decade with a renewed focus on sustainability and impact.
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Please find the media toolkit which contains the media release, biographies, portraits and image credits. For more information on the Zeitz MOCAA Global Council.
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Issued by Zeitz MOCAA Communications.
MEDIA TOOLKIT
About Zeitz MOCAA
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) is a groundbreaking public not-for-profit institution that collects, preserves, researches, and exhibits contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora; conceives and hosts international exhibitions; develops supporting educational, discursive and enrichment programmes; encourages intercultural understanding; and ensures access for all.
The museum’s galleries feature rotating temporary exhibitions with dedicated space for the permanent collection. The institution also includes the BMW Centre for Art Education, and the Koyo Kouoh Atelier, a museum residency programme for artists living and working in Cape Town.
Zeitz MOCAA, situated at the Silo District, South Arm Road, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, is open Monday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm (last entry at 5.30 PM)
zeitzmocaa.museum