West Space announces new Curator

West Space welcomes Tahmina Maskinyar to our organisation as Curator.

Tahmina Maskinyar is an arts worker and writer. Born in Kabul and raised near the Djarlgarro Beelier (Canning River) on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja, she is committed to amplifying the existing capacities of others and aims to facilitate space for creative practice to flourish and intersect with critical discourse. Her experience spans academia, not-for-profits, volunteer boards, and government. Tahmina’s writing has been published in Architecture Australia, un Magazine, Art Guide, and West Space Offsite.

In joining the team, Tahmina seeks to build on the vital work of those who have shaped West Space. She says, “attuned to intentions of futurity, I am committed to supporting the open door West Space offers artists and the creative community to engage in development, learning, and transformative conversations — anchored in place and informed by global solidarities.”

“I am honoured to welcome Tahmina to West Space”, says West Space Director Joanna Kitto. “Through her work, Tahmina has proven herself to be a deep thinker, incubating ideas with artists and her collaborators, with utmost respect for the artists’ voice. I am thrilled to begin working with Tahmina in this way, providing our nation’s most brave and most exciting artists with the platform they need.”

Tahmina Maskinyar in front of a spotlighted work in a dark room, wearing an orange t-shirt with text on it. They are wearing glasses with brown hair smiling with their hands behind their back.
Tahmina Maskinyar within the exhibition 'From Fire' by NC Qin and Ali Tahayori, 2023, Casula Powerhouse. Photograph by MJ Flamiano.

West Space extends our gratitude to outgoing Curator Sebastian Henry-Jones.

From 2021 to 2025, Seb brought rigour and heart to his work at West Space, always considering and our identity and function, with self-reflexivity about what an arts organisation can do for artists.

Seb was the beating heart of the West Space Commission, curating major solo projects by artists including Hoang Tran Nguyen, Grace Culley, HOSSEI, Gabi Briggs, Akil Ahamat, and many more.

Seb’s way of working was exemplified by his curatorial project Unison. Tasked with the enormity of reflecting on West Space at 30 years, Seb underpinned the exhibition with the idea that people are creative before they choose the path of an artist alongside a distinct series of objectives. Read Seb's words on the role of West Space Curator here.

“Seb is an exceptional curator and person. Over four years, Seb has empowered artists to do their best work with the utmost respect for their practices, and has been a joy to work side-by-side and shape the future of the organisation together. While we are terribly sad to see him go, we’ll be following his practice, and look forward to continued ways to work together.” — Joanna Kitto, West Space Director

“Thank you Seb, for your practice of care and deep thinking which you brought to all your work with West Space as a curator and valued member of our team. We have enjoyed the exhibitions, programs and sensitive, insightful, good humoured facilitation of conversation and engagement with artists you've driven or been an instrumental collaborator on.” — Eugenia Lim, West Space Board Member
Two individuals sit on fold out chairs. One is sitting crossed-legged speaking into a microphone with a hand out gesturing while speaking. A TV is seen to the far left of him. The other individual sits on the right, intensely listening, with a speaker directly next him. We see the blurred figure of a person in the peripheral listening.
Sebastian Henry-Jones in conversation with Hoang Tran Nguyen, 2022, West Space, Collingwood Yards. Photography by Emily Seif.