American sculptor Alma Allen, a self-taught artist with an unconventional background, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2025 Venice Biennale. His selection was made by the American Arts Conservancy, a new nonprofit with no art-world track record, which was awarded the commission through a State Department process that removed diversity requirements and emphasized art reflecting "American values."
The appointment has sparked controversy, placing Allen at the center of a political firestorm. It highlights the Trump administration's efforts to reshape cultural institutions and reignites debates about the politicization of the U.S. pavilion, the role of the State Department in art selection, and the criteria for representing a nation on the world's most prominent art stage.