35th São Paulo Biennial Announces 43 Artists, Emphasizes Decoloniality and Horizontal Curatorial Approach
The 35th São Paulo Biennial, titled 'Choreographies of the Impossible,' will open on September 6. Its curatorial collective—Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes, and Manuel Borja-Villel—rejects a single chief curator, opting for a horizontal structure they term 'contradance' to dismantle institutional hierarchies. A partial list of 43 artists, duos, and collectives was announced on April 27, with a full roster of over 100 names to follow. The curators, who began working together in late 2021, frame decoloniality not as a theme but as embodied knowledge and daily practice. They selected works that expand the relationship between art and politics beyond representation, including abstract, performative, and spiritual approaches. Examples include Denílson Baniwa's project involving planting native corn seeds and Torkwase Dyson's compositional Black thought. The biennial will be free, a decision the curators describe as inherently political. They addressed criticism of their initial curatorial text as vague, defending its processual nature and welcoming debate. The educational program, launching April 29, is central to their public engagement strategy.
Key facts
- The 35th São Paulo Biennial opens on September 6, 2025.
- The curatorial collective consists of Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes, and Manuel Borja-Villel.
- A partial list of 43 participants was announced on April 27, 2025.
- The full list will include over 100 artists, duos, and collectives.
- The curators began working together in the transition from 2021 to 2022.
- The biennial will be free to the public.
- The curatorial approach rejects a single chief curator in favor of a horizontal 'contradance.'
- The educational program launches on April 29, 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Diane Lima
- Grada Kilomba
- Hélio Menezes
- Manuel Borja-Villel
- Denílson Baniwa
- Torkwase Dyson
- Philip Rizk
- Stanley Brouwn
- Aline Motta
- Dayanita Singh
- Inaicyra Falcão
- Sheila Leirner
- Marilyn Boror Bor
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Melchor María Mercado
- Rosa Gauditano
- Aurora Cursino dos Santos
- Stella do Patrocínio
- Arthur Bispo do Rosario
- Ubirajara Ferreira Braga
- Citra Sasmita
- Rosana Paulino
- Carmézia Emiliano
- Aida Yanomami
- Edmar Yanomami
- Roseana Yanomami
- Denilson Baniwa
- Edgar Calel
- Juan van der Hamen y León
- Helena Cabello
- Ana Carceller
- Marlon Riggs
- Sidney Amaral
- Oscar Niemeyer
- Katherine Dunham
- Emanoel Araújo
- Rommulo Vieira da Conceição
- Achille Mbembe
- Aida Harika
- Edmar Tokorino
- Roseane Yariana
- Kidlat Tahimik
- Igshaan Adams
- Daniel Lie
- Rolando Castellón
- Tadáskía
- François Pain
- Min Tanaka
- Félix Guattari
- Joseph Canteloube
- Maya Deren
- Chao-Li Chi
- Bouchra Ouizguen
- Judith Scott
- Ahlam Shibli
- Aida Harika Yanomami
- Edmar Tokorino Yanomami
- Roseane Yariana Yanomami
- Amadorand Jr. Segurança Patrimonial Ltda.
- Amos Gitai
- Ana Pi
- Taata Kwa Nkisi Mutá Imê
- Anna Boghiguian
- Anne-Marie Schneider
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans (AMT)
- Arthur Bispo do Rosário
- Aurora Cursino
- Ayrson Heráclito
- Tiganá Santana
- Benvenuto Chavajay
- Cabello/Carceller
- Carlos Bunga
- Castiel Vitorino Brasileiro
- Ceija Stojka
- Charles White
- Colectivo Ayllu
- Cozinha Ocupação 9 de Julho
- Daniel Lind-Ramos
- Davi Pontes
- Wallace Ferreira
- Deborah Anzinger
- Denise Ferreira da Silva
- Diego Araúja
- Laís Machado
- Duane Linklater
- Elda Cerrato
- Elena Asins
- Elizabeth Catlett
- Ellen Gallagher
- Edgar Cleijne
- Eustáquio Neves
- flo6x8
- Francisco Toledo
- Frente 3 de Fevereiro
- Gabriel Gentil Tukano
- George Herriman
- Geraldine Javier
- Grupo de Investigación en Arte y Política (GIAP)
- Gloria Anzaldúa
- Guadalupe Maravilla
- Ilze Wolff
- Januário Jano
- Jesús Ruiz Durand
- John Woodrow Wilson
- Jorge Ribalta
- José Guadalupe Posada
- Julien Creuzet
- Kamal Aljafari
- Kapwani Kiwanga
- Leilah Weinraub
- Leopoldo Méndez
- Luana Vitra
- Luiz de Abreu
- MAHKU
- Malinche
- Manuel Chavajay
- Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs
- M’barek Bouhchichi
- Morzaniel Ɨramari
- Mounira Al-Solh
- Nadal Walcott
- Nadir Bouhmouch
- Soumeya Ait Ahmed
- Nikau Hindin
- Niño de Elche
- Nontsikelelo Mutiti
- Patricia Gómez
- María Jesús González
- Pauline Boudry
- Renate Lorenz
- Quilombo Cafundó
- Raquel Lima
- Ricardo Aleixo
- Rommulo Vieira Conceição
- Rubem Valentim
- Rubiane Maia
- Sammy Baloji
- Santu Mofokeng
- Sarah Maldoror
- Sauna Lésbica por Malu Avelar
- Ana Paula Mathias
- Anna Turra
- Bárbara Esmenia
- Marta Supernova
- Senga Nengudi
- Simone Leigh
- Sônia Gomes
- stanley brou
- Taller 4 Rojo
- Taller NN
- Tejal Shah
- The Living and the Dead Ensemble
- Trinh T. Minh-Ha
- Ventura Profana
- Wifredo Lam
- Will Rawls
- Xica Manicongo
- Yto Barrada
- Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico
- Trinh T. Minh-ha
Institutions
- 35th São Paulo Biennial
- arte!brasileiros
- Folha de S.Paulo
- Bienal de São Paulo
- Pavilhão da Bienal de São Paulo
- Frente 3 de Fevereiro
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans Argentina (AMT)
- Movimento dos Artistas Huni Kuin (Mahku)
- Vão
- Museu Afro Brasil
- Comunidade Cultural Quilombaque
- Quilombo Cafundó
- Cozinha Ocupação 9 de Julho
- MTST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto)
- 35th Bienal de São Paulo
- Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion
- La Borde
- São Paulo Bienal
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans (AMT)
- Colectivo Ayllu
- Grupo de Investigación en Arte y Política (GIAP)
- MAHKU
- Taller 4 Rojo
- Taller NN
- The Living and the Dead Ensemble
- Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico
- Reina Sofia Museum
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Suriname
- Netherlands
- Guatemala
- Ghana
- Bolivia
- Argentina
- Bali
- Indonesia
- Roraima
- Spain
- United States
- Perus
- Porto Alegre
- Salvador
- Bahia
- Africa
- Asia
- South America
- Nicaragua
- France
- Japan
- Ukraine
- Madrid