Laurence Rassel Appointed Director of Rijksakademie
52Dec. 5, 2025
TheRijksakademieinAmsterdamhas namedLaurence Rasselas its next director. Rassel arrives to the academy from école de recherche graphique (erg), the Brussels art school where she has served as director since 2016. She will step into her new role on March 1, 2026. Rassel succeedsEmily Pethick, who departed the post this past September.
“We’re very excited to welcome Laurence Rassel as the new director of theRijksakademie. Her profound grasp of artistic practice, combined with her innovative approach to encouraging dialogue and experimentation, perfectly aligns with our mission,” saidOtobong Nkangaand Marian Scheele, co-chairs of the Rijksakademie’s supervisory board, in a statement. “Laurence brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering commitment to the transformative power of art. We eagerly anticipate her leadership as she steers the Rijksakademie towards the future.”
Rassel is well known for her leadership of experimental art institutions. Before joining erg, she was director of Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona, from 2008 to 2015. From 1998 to 2008, she was a member of Brussels-based nonprofit association and interdisciplinary arts lab Constant.
“The history of the Rijksakademie resonates with my own trajectory,” said Rassel in a statement. “Becoming the new director will lead me to follow the same path as the institution, a trajectory from an art school to an artist residency and community.” She went on, “It is an honor and a thrilling challenge to accompany a place that gathers artists of multiple practices and continents who mark the now and the future of the art world.”