ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

61st Venice Biennale 'In Minor Keys' Explores Survival and Spirituality

exhibition · 2026-04-09

The 61st Venice Biennale Arte, themed 'In Minor Keys' and overseen by curator Koyo Kouoh, commenced on June 26, 2026, at both the Arsenale and Central Pavilion. This exhibition showcases 110 artists, using minor tonalities as symbols of resilience. Highlights include Tabita Rezaire's 'Omo Elu' (2024), Ranti Bam's 'Ifa IIe Oja – Black Ifa' (2026), and an installation by Taus Makhacheva at the UAE Pavilion. Additional significant works are Florentina Holzinger's 'Seaworld Venice', Miet Warlop's 'IT NEVER SSST', Sohrab Hura's 'Things Felt But Not Quite Expressed' (2022-2024), and a video installation by Eric Baudelaire. The curatorial team features Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Siddhartha Mitter, Marie Helene Pereira, Rasha Salti, and Rory Tsapayi.

Key facts

  • 61st Venice Biennale Arte titled 'In Minor Keys' curated by Koyo Kouoh
  • Exhibition opened June 26, 2026 at Arsenale and Central Pavilion, Giardini
  • Features 110 artists
  • Koyo Kouoh died over a year before the opening
  • Tabita Rezaire's 'Omo Elu' (2024) uses indigo-dyed cotton panels of Yemaya
  • Ranti Bam's 'Ifa IIe Oja – Black Ifa' (2026) totemic sculptures
  • Taus Makhacheva's installation at UAE Pavilion with 52 speakers playing apologies
  • Florentina Holzinger's 'Seaworld Venice' at Austrian Pavilion includes human bell clapper and urine recycling
  • Miet Warlop's 'IT NEVER SSST' at Belgian Pavilion features chalk words
  • Sohrab Hura's pastel drawings 'Things Felt But Not Quite Expressed' (2022-2024)
  • Mohammed Joha's 'No Shelter' (2025-ongoing) collage series
  • Rose Salane's 'Person 61-91' (2019) with lost subway rings and DNA analysis
  • Mays Albaik's 'Kūnī Kai Akūna Kamā Aqūl!' (2026) glass mouth casts
  • Eric Baudelaire's video 'Death Passed My Way and Stuck This Flower in My Mouth' set in Aalsmeer flower auction
  • Cauleen Smith's 'The Wanda Coleman Songbook' (2024) about poet Wanda Coleman
  • Curatorial team: Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Siddhartha Mitter, Marie Helene Pereira, Rasha Salti, Rory Tsapayi

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Venice Biennale
  • Arsenale
  • Giardini
  • Central Pavilion
  • Austrian Pavilion
  • Belgian Pavilion
  • UAE Pavilion
  • Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)
  • Aalsmeer flower auction
  • Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute
  • Artnet News
  • Parfumerie
  • Giardini della Biennale
  • Denniston Hill
  • Makerere University
  • G.A.S. Guest Artist Foundation
  • Kunsthaus Paradiso
  • Artribune
  • Biennale di Venezia
  • exibart.com
  • BAK
  • Studio Labics
  • Pace Gallery
  • Sfeir-Semler Gallery
  • Hollybush Gardens Gallery
  • Zachęta National Gallery of Art
  • Ministère de la Jeunesse, de la Culture et de la Communication du Maroc
  • Connaissance des Arts
  • Département d'Etat (US State Department)
  • La Biennale di Venezia
  • Perrotin
  • Gagosian
  • Hauser & Wirth
  • Lehmann Maupin
  • Victoria Miro
  • Mendes Wood DM
  • Olney Gleason
  • Galleria Raffaella Cortese
  • Massimo De Carlo
  • Continua
  • Lisson Gallery
  • Goodman Gallery
  • Galerie Lelong & Co.
  • Lia Rumma
  • Mazzoleni
  • SpazioA
  • Andrew Creps
  • Emalin
  • Isabella Bortolozzi
  • Elba Benítez
  • Àngels Barcelona
  • Hollybush Gardens
  • Green Naftali
  • The Breeder
  • Kurimanzutto
  • Power Station of Art
  • Chantal Crousel
  • Art Basel
  • Artnet
  • New York Times
  • Fondazione Querini Stampalia
  • Ca' Pesaro
  • Teatro Goldoni
  • Fondazione Berengo
  • Museo Correr
  • Negozio Olivetti
  • Palazzo Bragadin Carabba
  • Ca' Faccanon
  • The Venice Venice Hotel
  • State Department
  • US Pavilion
  • Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga)
  • Pussy Riot
  • Femen
  • Beaux Arts Magazine
  • INFERNO
  • Scuola Grande di San Rocco
  • Galleria Gaburro
  • Fondation Linda et Guy Pieters
  • Palazzo Manfrin
  • Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
  • Punta della Dogana
  • Pinault Collection
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Fondazione Giorgio Cini
  • Gallerie dell'Accademia
  • FAI – Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano ETS
  • Galleria Continua
  • MORPHO
  • KANAL-Centre Pompidou
  • Dhaka Art Summit
  • Gropius Bau
  • Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery
  • Wolff Architects
  • Fondazione Prada
  • Pier Luigi Nervi Foundation
  • Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
  • Fondazione Dries Van Noten
  • Frame Contemporary Art Finland
  • Abitare
  • Biennale de Venise
  • MoMA
  • Tate Modern
  • Creative Australia
  • Rostec
  • Fondation Biennale
  • U.S. Department of State
  • San Marco Art Centre
  • Nairobi Contemporary Art Centre
  • Makerere College
  • Guest Artists Space
  • fierce pussy
  • Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
  • Modern Art Museum (MAM) Shanghai
  • Holy See Pavilion
  • Dicastery for Culture and Education
  • Soundwalk Collective
  • British Pavilion
  • Erarta Foundation
  • International Gallery of Modern Art at Ca' Pesaro
  • FAD Magazine
  • Irish Pavilion
  • Indian Pavilion
  • German Pavilion
  • Russian Pavilion

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Arsenale
  • Giardini
  • Austrian Pavilion
  • Belgian Pavilion
  • UAE Pavilion
  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • Aalsmeer
  • Netherlands
  • India
  • Gaza
  • Cape Town
  • South Africa
  • New Orleans
  • United States
  • Kuwait
  • Zurich
  • Switzerland
  • Cameroon
  • Israel
  • Palestine
  • Lebanon
  • Iran
  • Toronto
  • Canada
  • Matanzas
  • Cuba
  • Beirut
  • Barbados
  • Schoten
  • Accra
  • Ghana
  • Riverside
  • Chicago
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • San Salvador
  • El Salvador
  • Myanmar
  • Chbanieh
  • Kampala
  • Uganda
  • Tanzania
  • Nigeria
  • Europe
  • Osaka
  • Japan
  • Ramallah
  • Haiti
  • Rohingya
  • Rome
  • Vietnam
  • Liban
  • Royaume-Uni
  • Belgique
  • Espagne
  • France
  • Autriche
  • Italie
  • États-Unis
  • Pologne
  • Royaume du Maroc
  • Dakar
  • Senegal
  • Tombouctou
  • Mali
  • Casablanca
  • Morocco
  • Yule
  • Colorado
  • Washington
  • Somalia
  • Peru
  • Basel
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Greece
  • Brazil
  • Africa
  • Murano
  • Via Garibaldi
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Belgium
  • Poland
  • Kenya
  • South Carolina
  • Jamaica
  • Austria
  • Vatican City
  • Cannaregio
  • Isola San Giorgio Maggiore
  • Piazza San Marco
  • San Geminiano
  • Brussels
  • Gateshead
  • Naples
  • China
  • Finnish Pavilion
  • Greek Pavilion
  • Palazzo Nervi Scattolin
  • Isola di San Giacomo
  • Palazzo Pisani Moretta
  • Philippines
  • Finland
  • Paris
  • Tanger
  • Amsterdam
  • Utah
  • Mexico
  • Sydney
  • Australia
  • Pokrovsk
  • Budapest
  • Hungary
  • Sweden
  • Norway
  • Madison Avenue
  • Brooklyn
  • Copenhagen
  • Denmark
  • Kingston
  • Algeria
  • Ireland
  • Mexico City
  • San Marco
  • Gallerie dell'Accademia
  • Giardino Mistico dei Carmelitani Scalzi
  • Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
  • Castello
  • British Pavilion
  • Scoletta Battioro e Tiraoro di Venezia
  • Grand Canal
  • Ca' Pesaro
  • Giardini della Biennale
  • Arsenale di Venezia

Sources

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