Palestinian Saudi artist Dana Awartani has been selected to represent Saudi Arabia at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Her pavilion will be curated by Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, with assistance from Hafsa Alkhudairi. Awartani, known for her material interpretations of conflict in the Middle East, draws on Saudi Arabia's craft and cultural legacies, often collaborating with local artisans or displaced craftspeople. Her recent works include a response to heritage site destruction at the 2024 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and an archive of recreated stone carvings at the 15th Sharjah Biennial.
This announcement marks the fourth time Saudi Arabia will present a national pavilion in its permanent space at the Arsenale, underscoring the kingdom's growing investment in contemporary art as part of its cultural initiatives. Awartani's practice, which bridges ancient craft traditions and contemporary art, offers a poignant reflection on cultural destruction and survival, making her representation particularly resonant at a biennial that often engages with global political and social issues.