The article reflects on the 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh, who passed away on 10 May 2025 at age 57 after a cancer diagnosis. Her curatorial concept, "In Minor Keys," will be realized posthumously by her team. The Biennale preview opens on 6 May 2026, with the public opening on 9 May. Additionally, artist Henrike Naumann, selected for the German Pavilion, died on 14 February 2025 at age 41, also from cancer; her work will be shown in her name.
The deaths of Kouoh and Naumann prompt reflection on their legacies and the Biennale's theme of healing, joy, and groundedness amid global exhaustion. Kouoh's inclusive leadership and redefinition of museum practice, especially at Zeitz MOCAA, resonate deeply. The article underscores how the Biennale, shaped by Kouoh's vision, becomes a testament to collective memory and the radical potential of art to foster community and restoration.