Curator Jeffrey Uslip defends Alma Allen as US Venice Biennale pick

Jeffrey Uslip, curator of the US pavilion at the Venice Biennale, addresses the controversial selection of Alma Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based sculptor. The first artist chosen was dropped before official announcement, and Allen's appointment was delayed by the US government shutdown. Uslip emphasizes artistic autonomy despite the State Department framing the choice as showcasing American excellence. The exhibition, titled 'Call Me the Breeze,' features Allen's sculptures in stone, bronze, and wood that appear weightless. Uslip first encountered Allen's work at the 2014 Whitney Biennial. The pavilion's catalogue includes seven poets. Allen's materials include Colorado Yule marble (used in the Lincoln Memorial), Guatemalan green quartzite, and American walnut burl. Uslip previously co-curated the Malta pavilion in 2022. The US pavilion opens as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial in 2026.