Andres Serrano has publicly proposed to represent the United States at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with an installation expanding his ongoing project "The Game: All Things Trump," a collection of Trump-themed memorabilia acquired largely from eBay. The proposal includes a site-specific iteration of the work at the U.S. Pavilion in Venice's Giardini, potentially incorporating his controversial film "Insurrection" about the January 6 riots. The U.S. State Department is accepting submissions through July 30 and will announce its choice on September 1, leaving the winner only eight months to prepare.
The proposal matters because it tests the boundaries of political representation in a high-profile international art context, especially under a Trump administration. Serrano, known for provocative works like "Piss Christ" (1987), has faced accusations of being both too pro-Trump and too critical, reflecting the polarized reception of his work. The tight timeline and the fact that Serrano's project is based on existing material could give him an advantage, but the selection process also highlights shifting U.S. cultural diplomacy strategies at the Venice Biennale.