Alexander Koch (*1973) studied visual arts in Dresden and Leipzig (1994-99) and teached at the Leipzig art academy untill 2005. He has worked as a curator and editor on various exhibitions and publications. The "Dropping Out of Art" and the "Differentiation of Art Fields" have been major concerns in his theoretic writings. In 2003 he co-founded the Galerie Jocelyn Wolff in Paris. Since 2008 he is co-initiator and chairman of the NEW PATRONS program in Germany. Koch co-founded KOW in 2008.

Nikolaus Oberhuber (*1976) graduated in economics and sociology from the Universty of St. Gallen in 2002. In 1996 he co-founded the music distribution label "Sound Seduction" which later became HUM RECORDS. In 2001 he co-foundted the radio program SCHNAUZ FM on Toxic FM, spzialized on Hip Hop and Jazz music. He worked as the director of Galerie Nächst St. Stephan in Vienna from 2004 until 2007 before he moved to Berlin in 2008 to co-found KOW, together with Alexander Koch and Jocelyn Wolff. 

After a one year stay in an israeli Kibbutz, Johanna Chromik (*1976) studied political science, communication and cultural studies in Leipzig (1997-2005). Working as curatorial and project assistant, following engagements lead her to Berlin (Galerie Eigen+Art, Collection of the German Bundestag, KW Institue for Contemporary Art), to Los Angeles (Ovitz Family Collection), and to New York (The Pace Gallery, Collection Adam Lindemann). Johanna Chromik is KOW's director since April 2010.