Lee Sharrock selects five must-see highlights at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys" and conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh, who passed away in 2025. The Biennale runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, at the Giardini, Arsenale, and various Venetian venues. Featured highlights include Marina Abramović's historic exhibition "Transforming Energy" at the Gallerie dell'Accademia—the first major show for a living woman artist there—the Holy See Pavilion's "The Ear is the Eye of the Soul" with artists like Patti Smith and Brian Eno, and Lubaina Himid's British Pavilion presentation "Predicting History: Testing Translation."
This article matters because it previews key exhibitions at one of the world's most prestigious art events, the Venice Biennale, which sets global art trends and attracts international attention. The Biennale's posthumous realization of Koyo Kouoh's vision underscores the enduring impact of curatorial ideas, while the inclusion of groundbreaking artists like Abramović and Himid highlights ongoing conversations about gender, belonging, and spiritual resonance in contemporary art.