The entire jury of the Venice Biennale has resigned, including president Solange Farkas and members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi. The jury had announced it would not consider for prizes countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, a stance that would affect Israel and Russia, both of which have national pavilions at the exhibition. As a result, the Biennale will not award several jury prizes, including the Golden Lion for best national pavilion and best artist in the group show, replacing them with visitor-voted awards.
This resignation marks the latest politically charged controversy at the Venice Biennale, an exhibition often called the Olympics of art, where artists are increasingly seen as proxies for their countries' policies. The dispute reflects ongoing tensions over the participation of Israel and Russia, with Russia's pavilion already subject to restrictions and the Italian government investigating whether it contravenes sanctions. The incident underscores the growing pressure on major cultural institutions to navigate geopolitical conflicts, as artists and juries take stances that challenge traditional exhibition frameworks.