New York–based artist Guadalupe Maravilla, in Venice to install his work for the 2026 Venice Biennale, alleges he was racially profiled by police after leaving the Arsenale venue. Two officers demanded his documents, called backup, and attempted to handcuff him before he de-escalated the situation and left. Maravilla, known for his 'Disease Thrower' sculptures that address migration and healing, shared the incident on Instagram and provided a statement to ARTnews.
This incident matters because it underscores the global persistence of racial profiling and surveillance, directly contradicting the themes of Maravilla's Biennale work, which critiques systemic injustice and detention of Latino/Latine/Latinx communities in the U.S. The artist draws a parallel between his childhood experience as an undocumented migrant and this encounter, emphasizing that such patterns are not confined to one nation. The story highlights the tension between institutional recognition and personal vulnerability, raising questions about safety and equity in international art contexts.