Five Canadian artists have been selected for the main exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled *In Minor Keys*, which opens to the public next Saturday. The participants are Abbas Akhavan (featured in the Canada Pavilion), Manuel Mathieu, Rajni Perera, Marigold Santos, and one additional artist. The exhibition is the first Biennale curated by a Black woman, Cameroonian-Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, who died suddenly in May last year after a cancer diagnosis, just six months after her appointment. Despite her death, the Biennale proceeded with her plans, with her team completing the work.
This year’s Biennale matters because it marks a historic shift in representation and curatorial vision. Kouoh’s exhibition emphasizes artists from Africa and its diasporas, positioning itself as a counterweight to the overdeveloped Western world. The strong Canadian presence—unusually high for the main show—highlights a growing recognition of artists outside traditional art capitals like New York and Los Angeles. The inclusion of Indigenous and diasporic voices, particularly those exploring spirituality, culture, and nature, signals a broader rebalancing of the global art narrative.