The 13th edition of the Liverpool Biennial, titled 'Bedrock,' will run from June 7 to September 14, 2025, across 18 venues in the UK's largest city-wide contemporary art festival. Curated by Marie-Anne McQuay, the exhibition brings together 30 international artists and collectives with 22 new commissions, placing works in galleries, libraries, cathedrals, shopfronts, and public squares. The theme explores Liverpool's literal sandstone foundations as a metaphor for its layered histories—colonial empire, industry, civic resilience, and community life. Notable works include Amber Akaunu's film 'Dear Othermother' at Bluecoat, Linda Lamignan's triptych at FACT Liverpool, and Dawit L. Petros's installation at Liverpool Central Library.
The biennial matters because it uses contemporary art to engage deeply with Liverpool's specific identity, moving beyond generic place-making to address the city's complex colonial past, its diaspora communities, and its civic strength. By embedding art in everyday spaces like pharmacies and municipal offices, and collaborating with local networks such as Pagoda Arts, the festival positions itself as an active participant in Liverpool's civic life rather than a mere cultural event. This approach reflects a growing trend in biennials to root themselves in local contexts while addressing global themes of empire, migration, and community care.