Alma Allen's US Pavilion Draws Criticism at 2026 Venice Biennale
Hakim Bishara's review pans Alma Allen's exhibition at the US Pavilion of the 2026 Venice Biennale, calling it 'art from the land of the bland.' The negative assessment follows acclaimed presentations by Jeffrey Gibson in 2024 and Simone Leigh in 2022. Elsewhere at the Biennale, Hrag Vartanian praises the main exhibition 'In Minor Keys' as an 'unexpected symphony.' Greta Rainbow reports a poetry caravan honoring late artistic director Koyo Kouoh, led by María Magdalena Campos-Pons. In New York, American Folk Art Museum workers picketed the annual gala demanding higher wages. Erin L. Thompson reviews the film 'The Christophers' starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. Arthur Nersesian reviews Keith Haring at the Brant Foundation. The New Museum announced its first artist studio residents. The Robert Therrien Estate left Gagosian for Zwirner. Forge Project named its 2026 fellows.
Key facts
- Alma Allen's US Pavilion exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale is criticized as 'bland'.
- Previous US pavilions featured Jeffrey Gibson (2024) and Simone Leigh (2022).
- Hrag Vartanian calls the main exhibition 'In Minor Keys' an 'unexpected symphony'.
- A poetry caravan at the Giardini honored late artistic director Koyo Kouoh.
- María Magdalena Campos-Pons led the procession for Koyo Kouoh.
- American Folk Art Museum workers picketed the annual gala for higher wages.
- Erin L. Thompson reviews 'The Christophers' starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel.
- Arthur Nersesian reviews Keith Haring at the Brant Foundation.
- New Museum named its first artist studio residents.
- Robert Therrien Estate left Gagosian for David Zwirner.
- Forge Project announced its 2026 fellows.
Entities
Artists
- Alma Allen
- Jeffrey Gibson
- Simone Leigh
- Koyo Kouoh
- María Magdalena Campos-Pons
- Ian McKellen
- Michaela Coel
- Keith Haring
- Robert Therrien
- Buhlebezwe Siwani
- Johannes Phokela
- Li Yi-Fan
- Hafeez Raza
- Sophie Calle
- Charles Alston
- Al Loving
- Howard Mehring
Institutions
- United States Pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- Hyperallergic
- American Folk Art Museum
- Brant Foundation
- New Museum
- Gagosian
- David Zwirner
- Forge Project
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum
- Palazzo delle Prigioni
- Swann Galleries
- Center for Craft
- Madison Square Park Conservancy
- NEON
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- New York City
- United States
- Taiwan