Nicolas Bourriaud

Nicolas Bourriaud (born in 1965) is a French curator, art critic and theorist whose ideas have profoundly influenced the interpretation of contemporary art since the 1990s. He is best known for developing the concept of relational aesthetics, which examines artistic practices based on human relationships, collective situations and their social contexts rather than on the production of autonomous objects.

His influential books include Relational Aesthetics, Postproduction, The Radicant and The Exform. Across these writings, Bourriaud has investigated how artists respond to globalization, digital culture, circulation, translation and the reuse of existing cultural material. His theories have generated extensive debate, particularly around participation, social engagement and the political limits of relational art.

Bourriaud co-founded and co-directed the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and has curated major international exhibitions, including the 16th Istanbul Biennial and the 15th Gwangju Biennale. This tag gathers articles, interviews, exhibition reviews and critical perspectives on Nicolas Bourriaud’s curatorial projects, theoretical concepts and continuing influence on contemporary art.