AXELLE KURBAN

Axelle Kurban (b. Beirut, Lebanon, 2003) currently lives and works in Paris, France.

Axelle is a curator and cultural project manager working at the intersection of research, public engagement, and contemporary art. Her practice centers on building culturally grounded and socially responsive projects that connect institutions, artists, and communities across transnational contexts. With a strong foundation in art, media and technology, and art and design history, Kurban approaches each initiative with analytical depth and a commitment to contextual inquiry — whether developing public art strategies, shaping exhibition narratives, or designing research tools for cultural organizations.

Her experience spans public art commissions, institutional research, cultural programming, and collaborative exhibition-making between Paris and Beirut. She has contributed to various non-profit initiatives, supported curators and cultural practitioners, and participated in the development of both long-term and ephemeral public art and education projects throughout.

In cultural project management, Axelle prioritizes clear conceptual grounding, stakeholder collaboration, and the ability to translate complex ideas into accessible and meaningful formats. She is particularly interested in how art can activate public space, generate knowledge, and respond sensitively to social and political contexts. Her work is defined by curiosity, initiative, and a continuous drive to imagine new frameworks for cultural production.

Alongside her professional roles, her research-based artistic practice remains an essential engine in her work. Focused on multidisciplinary approaches, Arab queer identity, and the shapes of language, it sharpens her sensitivity, deepens her attention to cultural nuance, and fuels the imagination she brings to curatorial and cultural management projects. Together, these strands allow Kurban to cultivate rigorous, collaborative, and resonant cultural experiences.

Axelle holds a BFA in Art, Media and Technology, with a minor in Art and Design History from Parsons Paris. 

2026 Portfolio
CV