Here is the first and for now only interview with the curators of the 2026 Venice Art Biennale

The team of the late curator Koyo Kouoh has completed the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys," which opens to the public on May 9, 2026. In an exclusive interview, curators Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Helene Pereira, Rasha Salti, Siddhartha Mitter, and Rory Tsapayia discuss the challenges of realizing Kouoh's vision after her death, including fundraising, installation design by Wolff Architects of Cape Town, and the use of cardboard as a non-invasive material to create thresholds between spaces.

This interview matters because it provides rare insight into how a curatorial team navigated the loss of its visionary leader while facing political and institutional tensions within the Biennale. The exhibition's focus on "minor keys" and its poetic, introspective approach—emphasizing rest areas and emotional transitions—signals a shift toward more contemplative, human-centered curatorial practices in major international art events.