The 61st Venice Biennale's international exhibition, titled "In Minor Keys," was realized after the sudden death of its artistic director, Koyo Kouoh, in May 2025. A team of five of Kouoh's collaborators, known as "la squadra di Koyo Kouoh," worked with her before her death and finalized the exhibition's themes, artist list, and scenography. The exhibition features 111 invited artists, duos, collectives, and artist-led organizations, with the team emphasizing that this remains Kouoh's vision rather than a replacement.
This matters because it demonstrates how a major international exhibition can be completed posthumously through collaborative practice and careful stewardship of a director's vision. Kouoh's concept of "minor keys" as a form of resistance and survival offers a counterbalance to global chaos, emphasizing slowness, nuance, and community. The exhibition's unique organizational structure and thematic focus on renewal rather than exhaustion mark a significant departure from typical biennale presentations, potentially influencing how future exhibitions handle artistic leadership transitions.