Róng Museum of Art Appoints Curatorial Team Ahead of 2027 Opening

The Róng Museum of Art (RMoA) announced the appointment of Freya Chou, Li Jia, and Susanna Zhu as Curators, joining Founding Museum Director Pi Li to bring together their extensive expertise spanning international curatorial practice, contemporary art research and public engagement.

Their appointments strengthen the RMoA’s curatorial team and mark a major milestone in defining its intellectual framework, curatorial vision, and public mission, while shaping the Museum’s exhibition programs, research, and public programs ahead of its opening in the second half of 2027.

Rooted in Shenzhen and conceived from a global perspective, the RMoA is dedicated to presenting the diverse artistic practices of the twenty-first century through a global lens. Guided by the principle of “interconnectedness”, RMoA believes that cultural vitality is nurtured through the open and sustained exchange of diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and knowledge systems. Through its exhibitions, collections, research initiatives and public programs, RMoA seeks to create opportunities for collective learning, connecting local and global perspectives, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and bringing history and the future into conversation.

Pi Li, Director of the RMoA, said, “Róng is not only the name of our Museum; it embodies our understanding of contemporary cultural practices. It signifies sustained and open exchange between different experiences, cultural backgrounds, and systems of knowledge, through which new understandings and possibilities continuously emerge. As a new cultural institution rooted in Shenzhen and connected to the world, RMoA is committed to presenting twenty-first-century artistic and creative practices through a global lens, while fostering cross-cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange through exhibitions, research, and public programs. Freya Chou, Li Jia, and Susanna Zhu each bring substantial expertise and distinct perspectives spanning contemporary art research, international curatorial practice, and community-centered public engagement. Their appointments further strengthen the Museum’s professional team and will help us build a curatorial and research framework that is both intellectually rigorous and open in spirit, laying an important foundation for the Museum’s opening in the second half of 2027 and its future development.”

Freya Chou and Li Jia will jointly oversee the Museum’s research, exhibitions, and public programs.

Freya Chou has worked extensively in curatorial practice and publishing across Asian and international art contexts. She previously served as Para Site’s inaugural Curator of Education and Public Programs (2015–2019). Recent curatorial projects include Hong Kong artist Ellen Pau’s first major survey exhibition at SculptureCenter, New York (2026), the 13th Taipei Biennial (2023), and Hong Kong’s participation at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (2022). Her curatorial and publishing projects have also been presented at institutions including the Museum of Asian Art in Turin, M+, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Grounded in an East Asian perspective, her practice explores dialogues across visual art, performance, and literature. At the Róng Museum of Art, she will contribute to expanding exchange and connections across different cultural contexts.

Freya Chou said, “I am delighted to join RMoA and contribute to the development of this new institution. The Museum’s vision of being rooted in Shenzhen while engaging with international perspectives resonates deeply with my long-standing interest in transregional cultural exchange. I look forward to collaborating with artists, curators and cultural practitioners from around the world, and to exploring new possibilities for regional and global dialogue.”

Li Jia previously served as Deputy Director of Pace Beijing (2012–2015) and Senior Curator at Taikang Space (2015–2020). Her curatorial practice focuses on the reinterpretation of Chinese contemporary art histories, as well as participatory and self-organized artistic practices within broader Asian contexts. She has worked extensively with artists across generations and has curated and contributed to a wide range of exhibitions, research initiatives, and publications. Selected projects include the Light Pavilion Project (2016–2018) at Taikang Space, Genders Engender (2018), and Build Where You Stand: Symposium on Community Art Practices in Contemporary China (2024), alongside other research- and publication-driven initiatives exploring contemporary art and society. At the RMoA, she will continue to advance contemporary art research and related curatorial practices.

Li Jia said, “My work has always been shaped by an interest in how art responds to society and connects people through shared experiences. Both locally and across Asia, I have continually witnessed new cultural ecosystems taking shape and growing. I look forward to working with the team to help build a cultural platform for the future in Shenzhen, a city defined by its vitality and openness. This is a commitment to remaining open to what has yet to emerge, and to fostering forms of togetherness yet to be realized.”

Susanna Zhu will lead the Museum’s learning and public engagement initiatives. With more than two decades of working experience in cultural institutions, she previously served as Deputy Director of the Exhibition Department at Shenzhen Fine Art Institute (2003–2014), Secretary General of the Shenzhen Curiosity Museum Studies Centre (2017–2026), and Director of the Zishi ESG Garden Community Museum of Sustainability (2024–2026).

Her work has long focused on museum learning, public engagement, and community-based cultural practice. With extensive experience spanning public education, cultural program development, and institutional leadership, she has played a leading role in designing and delivering public cultural service frameworks for major cultural institutions and international projects, including the Shenzhen Museum and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture. These initiatives have engaged more than three million visitors, demonstrating her longstanding commitment to expanding meaningful public access to culture. At the RMoA, she will lead the development of learning and engagement programs that foster deeper connections among the Museum, its communities, and diverse audiences.

Susanna Zhu said, “I have always believed that museums inspire people to become lifelong learners. RMoA’s commitment to learning, exchange, and public participation reflects the broader civic and cultural value of museums today. Some of the most meaningful learning emerges through encounters among people, art, and the city. I look forward to working with the team to cultivate an open and inclusive platform where diverse communities can come together through art, share experiences, and discover new perspectives through sustained dialogue and exchange.”

As the Museum’s curatorial team continues to take shape, RMoA will further advance preparations for its exhibitions, research initiatives, and public programs. Further details about its opening and inaugural program will be announced in the coming months.