61st Venice Biennale Opens with Koyo Kouoh's Posthumous Curatorial Vision
The 61st Venice Biennale, named "In Minor Keys," is set to commence under the posthumous guidance of Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), the esteemed curator from Cameroon. This main exhibition, located in the Giardini and Arsenale, showcases 111 contributors, including artists, collectives, and organizations, highlighting a significant representation of African and diasporic talent. Notably, over a dozen African countries are participating, with many making their debut, such as Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Guinea, and Morocco's inaugural national pavilion. The event is scheduled to take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with previews occurring from May 6 to 8. Kouoh’s family is committed to ensuring the exhibition aligns with her original vision.
Key facts
- The 61st Venice Biennale is curated by Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), a Cameroonian-born curator.
- The central exhibition spans the Giardini and Arsenale with 111 participants.
- Over a dozen African nations are represented, many debuting for the first time.
- First-time national pavilions include Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Guinea, and Morocco.
- The Biennale runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with previews May 6–8.
- Koyo Kouoh's family supports the exhibition's realization as she conceived it.
- The exhibition features artists from Africa and its diaspora, including Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Kader Attia, Wangechi Mutu, and Otobong Nkanga.
- The Biennale is seen as a culmination of Kouoh's commitment to African and diasporic art discourse.
Entities
Artists
- Koyo Kouoh
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons
- Berni Searle
- Nandipha Mnthambo
- Senzeni Marasela
- Kader Attia
- Billie Zangewa
- Nolan Oswald Dennis
- Akinbode Akinbiyi
- Sammy Baloji
- Ranti Bam
- Blacx Starlines KUMASI
- Seyni Awa Camara
- Nick Cave
- Godfried Donkor
- Ayrson Heráclito
- Nicholas Hlobo
- Sohrab Hura
- Alfredo Jaar
- Mohammed Joha
- Bodys Isek Kingelez
- Marcia Kure
- Victoria-Idongesit Udondian
- Annalee Davis
- Edouard Duval-Carrié
- Adebunmi Gbadebo
- Werewere Liking
- Georgina Maxim
- Wangechi Mutu
- Eustáquio Neves
- Otobong Nkanga
- Kambui Olujimi
- Ebony G. Patterson
- Thania Petersen
- Johannes Phokela
- Issa Samb
- Amina Saoudi Aït Khay
- Mmakgabo Mmapula Helen Sebidi
- Himali Singh Soin
- David Soin Tappeser
- Buhlebezwe Siwani
- Vera Tamari
- Kemang Wa Lehulere
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- G.A.S. Foundation
- Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute
- RAW Material Company
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Dakar
- Senegal
- Cape Town
- South Africa
- Morocco
- Zimbabwe
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Brazil
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Guinea
- Bahamas
- Cameroon
- Cuba
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- France
- Benin
- Côte d'Ivoire