OFF-BIENNÁLE BUDAPEST AT THE TOP OF THE HUNGARIAN POWER 50

COLLECTIVE IMPACT IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE

 

We are pleased to share that OFF-Biennále Budapest has been prominently featured in A mű’s 2025 Hungarian Power 50 list, which highlights the leading voices in the Hungarian contemporary art scene. The jury evaluated OFF as an independent curatorial collective and ranked it first in the curators and curatorial collectives category.

This year’s Power 50 introduced a revised approach: instead of a single ranking, it assessed key figures across five categories (institutions and decision-makers; artists; contributors to critical discourse – critics, writers, academics; curators and curatorial collectives; market figures and philanthropists). The nomination process was structured along these categories, making it more visible how certain actors exert influence across multiple areas.

In the case of OFF-Biennále Budapest, nominations came from several categories: some respondents considered it an institution, others a curatorial collective. The editors ultimately consolidated all votes cast for OFF and—taking its self-definition into account—placed it in the curators and curatorial collectives category. Within this field, OFF ranked decisively first.

Several curators who played key roles in the 2025 edition of OFF also appear among the leading figures in the category. Alongside OFF, the highest number of votes went to Lívia Páldi, while Hajnalka Somogyi, Borbála Szalai, and Nikolett Erőss were also among the top-ranked. After combining the votes received for their individual work and their contributions within OFF, they share first place; alongside them, other members of the OFF 2025 curatorial team are also listed: Rita Kálmán, Eszter Lázár, Edit Molnár, Veronika Molnár, Kata Oltai, Borbála Soós, and Katalin Székely.

According to the feedbacks, the 2025 edition of OFF-Biennále Budapest was considered one of the most significant positive developments of the year, demonstrating that an internationally relevant, critically engaged contemporary art event can be realised without institutional backing. OFF-Biennále Budapest was not only a series of exhibitions, but also served as a platform for discourse, bringing social, political, and cultural issues into contemporary art discourse while providing opportunities for numerous artists and curators to present their work.

Overall, the Hungarian Power 50 reflects a dual condition: while the institutional system remains dominant, self-organised and independent initiatives are becoming increasingly influential. In this context, OFF-Biennále Budapest emerges not only as a participant, but as a key shaping force within the contemporary art landscape.

Congratulations to everyone featured on the list!

 

Read the original article (in Hungarian) HERE.