THE visionary curator who helped to shape the city’s art scene as director of Modern Art Oxford has died aged 37.

Michael Stanley had been director since 2009 and was instrumental in creating acclaimed exhibitions and in Modern Art Oxford’s major refurbishment. He curated Turner Prize-nominated exhibitions throughout his career and was on the contemporary art awards’ jury earlier this year.

Mr Stanley was brought up in Widnes, Cheshire, and received a first-class honours degree from the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford in 1995. Following university, he was curator of art at Compton Verney gallery in Warwickshire between 2000 and 2002.

He went on to work at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, where he curated the Turner-nominated exhibition by Anya Gallaccio and the critically-acclaimed exhibition by George Shaw. He also initiated collaborations with institutions and artists in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States.

In 2004, he became director of Milton Keynes Gallery and during his five-year tenure was responsible for two Turner Prize-nominated exhibitions, Yeah…..you, baby you! by Phil Collins in 2006 and Cathy Wilkes in 2008. He also curated a widely-acclaimed exhibition of work by Marcel Broodthaers and exhibitions of work by the late James Lee Byars. Mr Stanley joined Modern Art Oxford in January, 2009. Since then, he had delivered highly-praised programmes showcasing both neglected and established artists, as well as introducing cutting-edge contemporary artists. One of the highlights was the critically-acclaimed presentation of new work by the Slovakian artist Roman Ondak, which was later re-presented within the 2011 Venice Biennale. In 2010, Mr Stanley headed a £300,000 refurbishment of the gallery to create a cafe and new entrance in St Ebbes Street. During his time at the gallery, he also initiated joint ventures between Modern Art Oxford and other cultural institutions in the city, including The Ashmolean Museum, the Old Fire Station and the Radcliffe Observatory. Earlier this year, he became a member of the Turner Prize jury. Mr Stanley, who lived in Combe, near Woodstock, was found dead in Adelaide Street, Jericho, Oxford, on Friday. An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on Tuesday. He leaves a wife and three children. Modern Art Oxford has created an online book of condolences at modernartoxford.org.uk/ michael-stanley-book-of-condolences