Barnabás Bencsik, born 1964, curator, lives and works in Budapest. He earned his degree in literature and history, later in history of art from the ELTE University Budapest. He started getting involved in the art scene from the early 90’s, the transitional period of the Hungarian post-communism.

From 1990 to 1999 he ran the Studio Gallery, then he worked as the head of the Trafo Gallery, Budapest (1999–2001) and as chief curator in Műcsarnok|Kunsthalle. In 2001 he started to work as the artistic director of MEO–Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest. In 2006 he initiated and founded ACAX | Agency for Contemporary Art Exchange, which is an office to support and develop various type of cooperations between the local and the international art scene.

He was the director of Ludwig Museum–Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest between 2008-2013, but because of the radical shift in the Hungarian cultural policy, his tenure was not extended. Since he’s working as freelance curator and lecturer and runs the program of ACAX as an independent agency.

(Image credit: Gabriella Csoszó)