Overcuration

Overcuration refers to a process in which curatorial choices become so constrained by particular standards, tastes, or risk-averse strategies that they narrow the range of works represented, ideas explored, or voices included. It can occur in physical exhibitions, online platforms, festivals, and media production. In art institutions, it may manifest as a tightly thematic show with repetitive aesthetics or a preference for established artists, at the expense of experimentation or marginalized practitioners.

On digital platforms, algorithmic or editorial filters can produce feeds that privilege familiarity and validation, reducing serendipity and reinforcing existing tastes.

Causes include risk aversion, branding, funding pressures, time and space constraints, and reliance on metrics of popularity. Curators may also overemphasize coherence or a singular narrative, aiming to appeal to audiences or sponsors. Gatekeeping and representation bias can exacerbate homogenization by underrepresenting minority groups, regions, or media forms.

Consequences include reduced diversity of artists and ideas, stifled innovation, and a sense of exclusion among creators outside the dominant canon. Critics argue that overcuration can undermine the educational and revelatory potential of exhibitions and feeds by presenting a curated reality rather than a broad panorama.

Responses emphasize transparency, diverse curatorial teams, inclusive practices, public input, and experimental formats designed to broaden rather than narrow encounters with art and content.