The Biennale Must Remain Open – Also for Russia

Die Biennale muss offen bleiben – auch für Russland

The article argues against calls to exclude Russia from the Venice Biennale, focusing on the controversy surrounding the Russian pavilion's planned exhibition titled "Der Baum ist im Himmel verwurzelt" (The Tree Is Rooted in Heaven). The pavilion is set to feature musicians from Russia, Argentina, Mali, and Mexico, and its theme revolves around the idea that politics is time-bound. The author contends that while the demand to exclude Russia is understandable given the geopolitical context, it is dangerous because once a biennial begins disinviting states, it undermines the very concept of the international exhibition.

Joyce Awards to Relaunch After Yearlong Pause with $100,000 Unrestricted Grants for Great Lakes Artists

The Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has announced the relaunch of its Joyce Awards after a year-long hiatus, introducing a significant shift in its funding model. Starting with the 2026 cycle, the program will move from project-based grants to providing four artists annually with $100,000 in unrestricted funds, alongside a $40,000 grant for a partner nonprofit. The awards will now operate on a biennial rotation between specific Great Lakes states and allow for self-nominations for the first time.

Asia's Biennials Survey: The Asia Pivot

asias biennials survey asia pivot

Asia is experiencing a significant surge in biennial exhibitions, with at least eight major events currently running from Singapore to Riyadh and several more scheduled for later this year. These large-scale exhibitions are increasingly serving as strategic tools for soft power, urban regeneration, and economic promotion, often backed by government funding to elevate a city's global profile.

in venice, ukrainian artists reclaim joy with tender force

The article reports on 'Still Joy — From Ukraine Into the World,' a collateral exhibition at the 61st Venice Biennale presented by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and PinchukArtCentre. The show features works by Ukrainian artists including Malashchuk & Khimei, Simone Post, and Zhanna Kadyrova, exploring themes of joy, survival, and resilience amid war. Highlights include a two-channel video juxtaposing a Kyiv rave before and after Russia's full-scale invasion, letters from Ukrainian soldiers printed on foam panels, and installations that transform everyday objects into meditations on sweetness and endurance.

Frieze New York Opens Strong, But the Real Test Is Just Beginning

Frieze New York has opened with strong early sales, particularly in the Focus section, which is dedicated to emerging and underrepresented artists. This year's Focus prize was awarded to W Galería for its presentation of Seba Calfuqueo, a Mapuche artist whose work addresses colonialism, environmentalism, and gender identity through ceramic sculptures and hair-based materials. Her pieces are priced between $8,000 and $40,000, reflecting the market's growing interest in politically engaged contemporary art.

Inside the UAE Pavilion at Venice Biennale, a whisper becomes a portrait of a nation

The UAE Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale presents 'Washwasha,' an exhibition curated by Bana Kattan with assistant curator Tala Nassar. The show features six artists—Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva—whose works explore the concept of whispering in Arabic, encompassing oral history, language, rumor, and daily noise. Installations include glass sculptures, sound-based pieces from barbershops and farms, and a reconstructed hammam installation by Al Malhi that plays recordings of wedding rituals. The exhibition runs until November 22.

How the Venice Biennale imploded over Israel

The 61st Venice Biennale, scheduled to open on May 9, has been thrown into turmoil after its International Jury announced that national pavilions and artists representing countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court will not be eligible for prizes. This excludes Israel, represented by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, and Russia from competing for the Golden Lion. The decision follows an open letter signed by hundreds of artists and curators demanding Israel's exclusion over the war in Gaza, and comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including Russia's absence from previous editions after its invasion of Ukraine. The Biennale's theme, 'In Minor Keys,' curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, aimed to focus on dignity and listening to marginalized voices, but the prize ban has sparked accusations that identity politics are overshadowing artistic merit.

Mondialisation and Mondialité: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant

The Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) in New York is hosting "The Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the Winds: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant," an exhibition traveling from the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in São Paulo. The show eschews traditional curatorial hierarchies, instead utilizing the theories of Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant to present works by artists such as Gerardo Chávez and Eduardo Zamora. Rather than providing didactic labels, the installation encourages "errantry" and "relationality," allowing visitors to discover visual resonances and meanings through their own active engagement with the landscape of the gallery.

Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial showcases regional artists at HRAC

The Hammond Regional Arts Center (HRAC) has launched the 9th Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial, a regional showcase curated by Jeff Mickey of Southeastern Louisiana University. The exhibition features contemporary works from eleven artists, including Maggie McConnell, Mary Elkins, and Dale Newkirk. The event opened with a dedicated members' mixer followed by a public reception, and the sculptures will remain on display through May 30.

International poster exhibition on display at UA School of Art

The University of Arkansas School of Art is hosting the United States International Poster Biennial at its Studio + Design Center in Fayetteville, featuring juried posters from designers worldwide, including works by university faculty, students, and alumni. A public reception on January 29 will include remarks by assistant professor Ryan Slone and the presentation of the Gold Award to MDES Fellow Andi Hardin for her poster "The Gratitude Magma – Yellowstone." The exhibition has also traveled to several other U.S. universities and will have international stops in 2026.

Robert Smith & José Bayro C.’s “Parallel Origins” Exhibition to Open at Barton Art Galleries

Barton Art Galleries in Wilson, North Carolina, will open "Parallel Origins: From Distant Roots to Shared Worlds" on February 5, 2026, featuring works by Robert Smith and José Bayro C. The exhibition runs through March 13 and pairs two artists who share a studio in Puebla, Mexico, but present distinct bodies of work exploring memory, material, and personal history. It marks Barton College's first dual-artist residency, during which Smith and Bayro will collaborate with students in the "Studio Concepts" course, lead community workshops, and engage in open studio sessions and interdisciplinary conversations.

Long-running Azores art festival blossoms into a biennial

The Walk&Talk arts festival on São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores archipelago, has formally transitioned from an annual summer street art celebration into a biennial, running until 30 November with over 80 artists. Founded in 2011 by curator Jesse James, the event now features exhibitions, performances, excursions, talks, and educational programming across nine venues, including historic and architecturally significant sites such as Museu Carlos Machado and a former distillery turned contemporary art museum. The shift to autumn allows local school groups to participate, and the inaugural biennial is co-curated by Fatima Bintou Rassoul Sy, Liliana Coutinho, and Claire Shea under the theme "Gestures of Abundance."

The Interview: Sea Art Festival 2025

The 2025 Sea Art Festival, titled 'Undercurrents: Waves Walking on the Water,' is co-directed by Keumhwa Kim and Bernard Vienat, who were selected through an international open call. The biennial returns to Dadaepo Beach in Busan, South Korea, focusing on outdoor installations and sculptures that engage with the natural landscape and local communities. Kim, founder of Keum Art Projects, and Vienat, founder of art-werk and leader of the (re)connecting.earth biennial, emphasize collaboration with scientists such as paleontologists and bioacoustic researchers to highlight invisible ecological and social structures.

Prospect New Orleans will not take place in 2027

Prospect New Orleans, the contemporary-art triennial, will not hold its city-wide exhibition in 2027. Instead, the organization will publish a book titled "20 Years of Prospect" to mark its 20th anniversary, featuring essays, personal accounts, and archival images. Executive director Nick Stillman told Artnews that launching another large-scale exhibition is "not the focus right now," citing a need to pause, reflect on the triennial's legacy, and ensure its accomplishments are properly documented. Financial pressures and national political uncertainty, including concerns about federal arts funding under the Trump administration, also influenced the decision.

Wirral Welcomes the Independents Biennial 2025

Wirral is hosting the Independents Biennial 2025, a major contemporary art festival running concurrently with the Liverpool Biennial. Nearly 300 artists will exhibit in 120 locations across the Liverpool City Region, including landmarks such as Fort Perch Rock, Hilbre Island, and Hamilton Square. Highlights include a studio group exhibition titled 'Boom' at the Old Fire Station in Port Sunlight, featuring sculptor Emma Rodgers and collaborators, with works by Johnny Vegas. The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum will debut a commissioned piece by Jackie Haynes and Heather Mullender-Ross, and an art market at Birkenhead Market on June 28 will offer works by over 30 independent artists.

Liverpool Biennial 2025 digs deep into its city’s foundations with ‘Bedrock’ theme

The 13th edition of the Liverpool Biennial, titled 'Bedrock,' will run from June 7 to September 14, 2025, across 18 venues in the UK's largest city-wide contemporary art festival. Curated by Marie-Anne McQuay, the exhibition brings together 30 international artists and collectives with 22 new commissions, placing works in galleries, libraries, cathedrals, shopfronts, and public squares. The theme explores Liverpool's literal sandstone foundations as a metaphor for its layered histories—colonial empire, industry, civic resilience, and community life. Notable works include Amber Akaunu's film 'Dear Othermother' at Bluecoat, Linda Lamignan's triptych at FACT Liverpool, and Dawit L. Petros's installation at Liverpool Central Library.

‘An immense void in the world of contemporary art’: Koyo Kouoh, curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale, has died, aged 57

Koyo Kouoh, the acclaimed Cameroonian-born curator who was appointed to organize the 2026 Venice Biennale, died on Saturday at a hospital in Basel, Switzerland, at age 57. Her husband confirmed she died of cancer following a recent diagnosis. Kouoh had been selected in December to become the first woman from Africa to curate the prestigious international exhibition, and the Biennale's statement mourned her loss as leaving "an immense void in the world of contemporary art."

Filipa Ramos takes on 2027 Lofoten Festival

Filipa Ramos has been appointed curator of the 19th edition of the Lofoten International Art Festival, set to take place across the Norwegian arctic archipelago in June 2027. Ramos, a curator and writer who teaches at the Institute Art Gender Nature of the Academy of Art and Design FHNW in Basel, is known for ecologically-focused research that reimagines human-animal-environment relationships. She authored *The Artist as Ecologist* (2025) and is currently organizing the LOOP Festival in Barcelona and the symposia series *The Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish*, created with Lucia Pietroiusti.

Iran’s Participation in the Venice Biennale Still Uncertain

Iran’s participation in the 61st Venice Biennale remains uncertain after a public contradiction emerged between the Biennale Foundation and Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (MCIG). The Biennale Foundation had announced that Iran would not participate in the 2026 edition, curated by Koyo Kouoh, but Aydin Mahdizadeh Tehrani, director general of visual arts at the MCIG and commissioner of the Iranian Pavilion, stated in an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) that Iran never submitted a withdrawal letter. Instead, Iran requested more time and sent a letter on May 10 asking for the pavilion to open even if ineligible for prizes. Mahdizadeh Tehrani cited the US-Israel war with Iran as causing currency fluctuations that nearly tripled projected costs, complicating prior agreements, and noted that Iran had proposed a shorter exhibition period, which the Biennale rejected.

Frieze Prize Winners at the 2026 Venice Biennale

Frieze has announced the winners of its prize program at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The prizes recognize outstanding contributions by artists and curators participating in the Biennale, with awards given across multiple categories including emerging talent and innovative exhibition practices. The winners were selected by a jury of international art professionals and will receive financial support and visibility through Frieze's platforms.

MONITOR YIN YANG ARGENTINA ARRIVES AT THE VENICE BIENNALE WITH AN OPEN CARTOGRAPHY

The Argentine Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale will feature a site-specific installation titled "Monitor Yin Yang" by artist Matías Duville. Curated by Josefina Barcia, the work uses salt and charcoal to create an unstable, walkable landscape that explores the coexistence of opposing forces such as light and shadow, waste and energy. The installation includes a sound composition developed with Centolla Society and Alvise Vidolin, integrating real-time environmental data from Venice. Duville's project was selected from 69 proposals in an open competition organized by Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Secretariat of Culture, and the Argentine Investment and Trade Agency.

Tra workshop, studio e incontri. Ecco il nuovo programma formativo di Triennale Milano assieme al Qatar Museum

Triennale Milano, in collaboration with Qatar Museums, has launched a new educational program for recent graduates from Qatari universities. The initiative began with a selection call overseen by representatives of Design Doha, followed by a residency in Milan starting April 20. Five graduates—Reema Abu Hassan, Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Adriane de Souza, Maryam Hashim, and Meryem Omerspahic—participated in workshops, studio activities, and meetings during Milan Design Week. An open discussion about their experience will be held at Triennale on May 15 at 6 PM, featuring the participants and the bootcamp team.

Jobs in Art: Opportunities from Catania Academy of Fine Arts, MADRE Naples, Camera Austria, Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Lavoro nell’arte: opportunità da Accademia Belle Arti Catania, MADRE Napoli, Camera Austria, Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Several prominent Italian and international cultural institutions have launched open calls for professional roles, residencies, and artistic competitions. Key opportunities include the search for a new director at the MADRE Museum in Naples with a three-year contract, a social media manager position at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and various residency programs for photographers and designers at the Academy of Fine Arts in Catania and Camera Austria in Graz.

Artists sought for binational Border Biennial art exhibit

The El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) and the Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez (MACJ) have launched an open call for the eighth edition of the Border Biennial/Bienal Fronteriza. Scheduled to open in September 2026, the exhibition invites artists living within 300 miles of the El Paso-Juárez border to submit works under the theme "Imagining the Border." This iteration will expand its scope to include multi-sensory art, poetry, and spoken word, with 30 selected artists displaying works across both international venues.

In Dim Light, New Histories Emerge

Museo Afro Casa Silvana in Humacao, Puerto Rico, is hosting 'Dim Light: Afro-Puerto Rican Photography,' the first collective exhibition dedicated exclusively to Afro-Puerto Rican photographers. Featuring ten artists from the island and its diaspora, the show explores themes of spirituality, family, and resistance through a lens of self-representation. The works were previously debuted at the 3rd Black Brazil Art Biennial before returning to Puerto Rico for this landmark presentation.

Review: The 82nd Whitney Biennial is weird, provocative, and leaves viewers wanting more

The 82nd Whitney Biennial has opened, drawing attention for its weird, provocative nature that leaves viewers wanting more. The exhibition, held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, features a range of contemporary works that challenge conventional boundaries and spark dialogue.

59th Carnegie International, titled ‘if the word we,’ set to open Saturday

The 59th Carnegie International, titled 'if the word we,' is set to open this Saturday at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. The exhibition, one of the oldest and most prestigious surveys of contemporary art in North America, will feature works by a diverse group of international artists, curated around themes of collective identity and language.

Jury of the Venice Biennial resigns, Russia and Israel return to Award Contention

The five-member international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale, led by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas, has resigned effective April 30, 2026. The jury—comprising Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi—announced their resignation in a written statement, referencing a prior Statement of Intention issued on April 22. In response, La Biennale di Venezia postponed the Awards Ceremony from May 9 to November 22, the final public day, and introduced two new "Visitors' Lions" awards—one for the Best Participant in the main exhibition "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh, and one for the Best National Participation—to be decided by ticket-holder vote.

Lake Tahoe Community College Staff and Faculty Art Exhibition celebrates opening reception inside Haldan Art Gallery

Lake Tahoe Community College's Haldan Art Gallery hosted the opening reception for its Biennial Staff and Faculty Arts Exhibition. The event drew over 150 attendees to view 60 works by 19 artists from the college's faculty and staff, featuring a diverse range of mediums including ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, poetry, and music, unified under a theme of color and collaboration.

MEXICAN CURATOR ANNOUNCED FOR LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL 2027

The Liverpool Biennial has appointed Lucía Sanromán and Aimee Harrison as Co-curators for its 2027 edition. Sanromán, Chief Curator at Mexico City's MUAC, brings an international perspective on socially engaged art, while Harrison, a long-time Biennial staffer, provides deep local knowledge and experience in community-focused projects. The festival will run from June 5 to September 12, 2027, utilizing historic buildings, galleries, and unexpected spaces across the city.