Art News. Vasari Codex

article news schedule Jul 2, 2025 visibility 14 link 4 artists

khaled sabsabi reinstated for venice biennale 1234746757

Creative Australia has reinstated Lebanese-born artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as the representatives for Australia's pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, following an independent review and months of public backlash. The pair were initially removed in February after a column in The Australian criticized Sabsabi's 2007 video installation "You," which includes manipulated footage of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, accusing the artist and curator of favoring boycotts of Israel. The abrupt removal prompted resignations from senior Creative Australia staff and board members, widespread condemnation from the art community, and an open letter from shortlisted pavilion candidates demanding reinstatement.

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museum exhibitions schedule Feb 26, 2026 visibility 18 link 9 artists, 1 gallery

Australia’s coal city flexes culture muscle with major gallery expansion

Newcastle Art Gallery has officially reopened following a A$47 million ($33 million) expansion that more than doubles its exhibition space. The redevelopment, designed by Clare Design and Smith and Tzannes Architects, transforms the venue into the largest public art institution in New South Wales outside of Sydney. The opening is celebrated with the exhibition "Iconic Loved Unexpected," featuring 500 works from a permanent collection of 7,000 pieces, including significant Japanese ceramics and works by artists such as Auguste Rodin and Emily Kam Kngwarray.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule May 6, 2026 visibility 18 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi reveals details of presentations in the Australia Pavilion and in the International Exhibition In Minor Keys at Biennale Arte 2026 – News Hub

Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi will present two major installations at the 2026 Venice Biennale. At the Australia Pavilion, he unveils "conference of one’s self," an immersive multisensory work featuring eight monumental canvas paintings, video projections, and a soundscape inspired by a 12th-century Sufi allegory. Simultaneously, he becomes the first Australian artist to also exhibit in the International Exhibition, titled "In Minor Keys" curated by Koyo Kouoh, with a second installation called "khalil" at the Arsenale. Both works explore spirituality, migration, and shared humanity through a framework of Sufi thought.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 6, 2026 visibility 15 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

Khaled Sabsabi Unveils Biennale Arte 2026 Showcase

Khaled Sabsabi will represent Australia at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with two major installations. At the Australia Pavilion, he presents "conference of one's self," an immersive multisensory installation featuring eight monumental canvas paintings, suspended video projectors, and an analogue soundscape, all inspired by the 12th-century Sufi allegory "The Conference of the Birds." In a historic first for an Australian artist, Sabsabi also debuts a second work, "khalil," in the Biennale's main exhibition "In Minor Keys" curated by Koyo Kouoh at the Arsenale. Both works explore spirituality, migration, and shared humanity through a Sufi philosophical framework.

newspaper Mirage News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jul 7, 2025 visibility 13 link 10 artists, 1 gallery

Weekly News Roundup: July 7, 2025

The Sharjah Architecture Triennial announced its third edition theme, "Architecture Otherwise: Building Civic Infrastructure for Collective Futures," opening in November 2026, curated by Vyjayanthi Rao and Tau Tavengwa. The Noguchi Museum appointed Hitomi Iwasaki as head curator, while London nonprofit YDP announced an inaugural Duan Jianyu exhibition and permanent commissions by Christine Sun Kim and Danh Võ. Australia's Mordant family gifted major artworks to the Newcastle Art Gallery.

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article news schedule Feb 27, 2026 visibility 10 link 2 artists

food quattro gatti gin venice biennale

Quattro Gatti has been named the official gin of the 61st Venice Biennale, which opens in May 2026. The Umbrian-crafted spirit will be the exclusive gin available across Biennale sites including the Giardini della Biennale and the Arsenale, with a special Biennale cocktail planned. The brand was founded in 2022 by the Mordant family, led by Simon Mordant, a British-born arts patron who served as Commissioner for the Australia Pavilion in 2013 and 2015 and is Global Ambassador for Australia in 2026. The Mordants also led the rebuilding campaign for the Australian Pavilion, which opened in 2015 as the first 21st-century pavilion in Venice.

newspaper Cultured open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Mar 7, 2026 visibility 21 link 13 artists

Five must-see works from Newcastle Art Gallery's $145 million collection

Newcastle Art Gallery has officially reopened following a four-year, $48 million expansion that more than doubles its exhibition space. The upgraded facility now features 13 galleries, allowing the institution to maintain a permanent display of its $145 million collection for the first time in its history. The reopening was marked by a massive community response, with 28,000 visitors attending the inaugural weekend festivities and the debut exhibition, "Iconic Loved Unexpected."

newspaper Australian Broadcasting Corporation open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 25, 2026 visibility 9 link 2 artists

quattro gatti official gin 2026 venice biennale 1234774388

Quattro Gatti Gin, a spirits brand founded by the prominent Mordant family of art patrons, has been named the official gin of the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. The gin will be served at the Giardini and Arsenale venues, as well as during the high-profile professional preview days. Developed by Simon and Catriona Mordant alongside their children, the brand utilizes local Umbrian juniper and botanicals, marking a commercial extension of the family's deep ties to Italy and the international art world.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 6, 2026 visibility 17 link 3 artists

After the firestorm: First look at Australian artist’s Venice Biennale works

Australia has opened its pavilion at the Venice Biennale featuring artist Khaled Sabsabi's multimedia installation "conference of one's self," a vivid work inspired by a 12th-century Sufi poem. The exhibition follows a political firestorm: Creative Australia initially selected Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostini to represent the country, then rescinded the invitation after controversy over a 2007 video featuring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The decision was later reinstated, and Sabsabi also has a companion work in the main Biennale exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The pavilion is funded by the federal government and private donors including Simon Mordant and the Turnbull Foundation.

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museum exhibitions schedule Feb 25, 2026 visibility 18 link 2 artists

Khaled Sabsabi—who had his Australia Pavilion cancelled and reinstated—will also exhibit in main Venice Biennale show

Khaled Sabsabi has achieved a historic milestone as the first Australian artist to be selected for both a national pavilion and the Venice Biennale’s main international exhibition. After a tumultuous period in which his appointment to the Australia Pavilion was cancelled and then reinstated following political controversy, Sabsabi will now present his work 'conference of one’s self' in the Giardini alongside a separate contribution to the central show. Both projects are deeply rooted in Tasawwuf (Sufism) and themes of spiritual enlightenment and communal unity.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original