The Biomorphic Sculptures of Alma Allen in the U.S. Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale (Amid Controversy)

Alma Allen, a self-taught American sculptor, has been selected to represent the United States at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with the exhibition "Call Me the Breeze." The pavilion, curated by Jeffrey Uslip, will feature site-specific biomorphic sculptures that explore the concept of "elevation" through a hybrid creative process combining pre-industrial carving and hand-modeling with advanced robotic sculpting. Works will incorporate local American materials such as walnut burl, Cantera green volcanic rock, and Yule marble from Colorado, and the pavilion is tied to America250, the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

The selection of Allen and the organization of the U.S. pavilion have sparked significant controversy. The traditional selection process was bypassed, with the commission given to a new, inexperienced organization called America Arts Conservancy, led by former pet-supply store owner Jenni Parido. Curator Jeffrey Uslip has faced past scandals and accusations of racial insensitivity, while Allen is relatively unknown to the general public. Critics decry a loss of credibility and transparency, attributing the changes to the influence of the Trump administration and a broader rollback of cultural policies on diversity and inclusion. The pavilion has thus become one of the most divisive in the Biennale's recent history even before opening.