Cardiff is set to become a vibrant center for contemporary art! The forthcoming Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (Amoca) is preparing to spotlight Welsh talent adn international works,offering a dynamic platform in 2026. Founded by Anders Hedlund, this not-for-profit museum plans to exhibit around 1,000 pieces, many from Hedlund’s personal collection. amoca aims to increase public access to art and promote creative growth, specifically focusing on minorities. Currently, enjoy a free pop-up exhibition at the Temple of Peace until June 14, titled “Black Voices from the Museum Collection.” This exhibition features works by numerous African and African diaspora artists, including Anya Paintsil. News Directory 3 is excited about the impact this will have. What future art does Amoca have in store?
Cardiff to Get New Modern Art Museum Showcasing Welsh Talent
Cardiff is poised to become a hub for contemporary art with the upcoming launch of the Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (Amoca). The not-for-profit museum aims to champion local Welsh artists while also presenting international works.
Founded by Welsh-Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist anders Hedlund, Amoca plans to house around 1,000 pieces, largely from HedlundS personal collection.The museum is expected to open in 2026,pending finalization of a building purchase agreement in Cardiff.
Amoca’s mission includes increasing public access to contemporary art and fostering creative development, with a focus on minorities and subcultures. The museum intends to feature restaurant and social spaces, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and a program of talks, workshops, and artist residencies.
Ahead of the official opening, Amoca is hosting preview exhibitions.Currently on display until June 14 at the Temple of Peace is “Black Voices from the Museum collection,” a free pop-up featuring works by 34 African and African diaspora artists.
The exhibition includes pieces by Ghanaian artist amoako Boafo, Cameroonian Marc Padeu, Ethiopian Tesfaye urgessa, Nigerian-British painter Esiri erheriene-Essi, Franco-Senegalese Alexandre Diop, and New york’s Marcus Jansen.
Also featured is Anya Paintsil, a Welsh-Ghanian textile artist from Glyn Ceiriog, near Llangollen. Her work,”Nose bleeds,no back teeth and no eyebrows,” incorporates wool,human hair,and rubber bands to explore depictions of the Black figure.
“The show is about narratives, and who gets to write the narrative… historically our work has been left out and ignored by museum collections,” Jansen said.
Jansen’s piece, “Imperialist on African Colors,” is also on display. Katherine Casals, a Cardiff resident, praised the pop-up exhibition, emphasizing the need for such exhibits in the capital city.
Hedlund,who has been based in Wales for 45 years,views Amoca as a way to give back to the community. He noted the lack of Welsh collections in major auction houses and aims to provide a platform for Welsh artists.
What’s next
Amoca’s founders are working toward securing a permanent location in Cardiff, with the goal of opening the museum to the public in 2026, further enriching the city’s contemporary art scene.
