Eglė Budvytytė to Represent Lithuania at 61st Venice Biennale
Eglė Budvytytė is set to showcase her work at the 61st Venice Biennale, taking place from 9 May to 22 November 2026, in a pavilion located in Castello. Her film installation draws inspiration from Marija Gimbutas, a prominent Lithuanian archaeologist known for her studies on Neolithic cultures. Collaborating with international artists, Budvytytė emphasizes diversity rather than national identity. While she chose not to engage with the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys,' she acknowledged the difficulty of moving away from the need for visibility and cited Jonas Mekas as an influential figure in Lithuanian art. She pointed out Lithuania's late Christianization in the 14th century and its rich pantheon of deities, advocating for art that intersects with activism and collective resistance, while conducting rehearsals in Puglia and fundraising efforts from Amsterdam.
Key facts
- Eglė Budvytytė represents Lithuania at the 61st Venice Biennale.
- The Biennale runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
- The Lithuanian pavilion is in Castello.
- Budvytytė's presentation is a film installation inspired by Marija Gimbutas.
- Marija Gimbutas researched Neolithic spiritual and cultural practices in Southern and Eastern Europe.
- Budvytytė collaborated with performers from multiple geographies.
- She did not answer how her work relates to the Biennale theme 'In Minor Keys.'
- She named Jonas Mekas as an important Lithuanian artist.
- Lithuania was the last place in Europe to be Christianised, in the late 14th century.
- Budvytytė rehearsed in caves and the sea in Puglia.
- She works from her home in Amsterdam.
- She believes art must be combined with activism and collective resistance.
Entities
Artists
- Eglė Budvytytė
- Marija Gimbutas
- Jonas Mekas
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Versace
- Lithuanian Pavilion
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Castello
- Lithuania
- Puglia
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Southern Europe
- Eastern Europe