On May 20, 2026, a group of artists exhibiting in the Venice Biennale's "In Minor Keys" section and national pavilions sent a formal letter to the Venice Biennale Foundation and its president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, demanding their immediate removal from the newly created "Visitors' Lions" awards. The artists acted in solidarity with the original jury, appointed by curator Koyo Kouoh, which resigned after facing significant personal legal threats following its decision to omit pavilions under ICC investigation. Despite repeated requests—first on May 9 and again on May 20—the Biennale did not respond or remove the artists' names from voting ballots sent to ticketed visitors on May 14. The artists now number 67 from In Minor Keys and 39 from national pavilions, and they are considering legal action.
This dispute matters because it exposes a serious breakdown in trust and accountability between the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art institutions, and the artists it exhibits. The artists accuse the Biennale of deflecting responsibility for the jury's resignation and of disrespecting both participants and the public by continuing a voting process that lacks transparency. The conflict raises fundamental questions about institutional governance, the protection of juries from legal retaliation, and the ethical obligations of major biennials toward the artists and audiences they serve. If unresolved, this could damage the Biennale's reputation and set a precedent for how art institutions handle dissent and legal risks.