Art world figures including Naomi Beckwith, Beatrix Ruf, and Diana Campbell Betancourt share their reflections on the 2026 Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh under the title "In Minor Keys." Beckwith praises the exhibition's focus on post-war African art with an emphasis on women artists like Werewere Liking and Ranti Bam, describing it as a "peri-spiritual project" that asks audiences to shift their art-consumptive behavior. Ruf notes the Biennale felt "major" rather than minor, highlighting how national pavilions and projects responded to the theme with political and poetic urgency, citing works by Florentina Holzinger, Sung Tieu, and others. Campbell Betancourt emphasizes Kouoh's curatorial approach as expansive and inclusive.
This article matters because it captures immediate, expert reactions to one of the most prestigious events in the global art calendar, the Venice Biennale. The responses from leading curators and directors provide critical insight into how the Biennale's theme and execution are being received, influencing discourse around contemporary art, post-colonial narratives, and the role of performance and spirituality in exhibitions. The piece also underscores the Biennale's ability to generate dialogue on pressing social and political issues through art.