The American Arts Conservancy, a new nonprofit with MAGA-aligned leadership, is fundraising for Alma Allen's 2026 US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale through a "Donate" button on its website, having received no institutional financial support. Meanwhile, a sculpture by Pedro Reyes at the newly unveiled LACMA building has sparked controversy for recalling a 2021 commission rejected by Mexico City after Indigenous and feminist protests, and the experimental LA nonprofit The Box has closed after 19 years.
This matters because the US Pavilion's unusual funding model raises questions about the politicization of American cultural representation at the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art events. The LACMA controversy highlights ongoing tensions around agency, representation, and the ethics of displaying contested artworks, while The Box's closure marks the end of a vital space for unconventional art in Los Angeles.