Faiza Butt Selected for Pakistan Pavilion at 2026 Venice Biennale
Faiza Butt will represent Pakistan at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, presenting 'Punj•AB – A Sublime Terrain' curated by Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano and commissioned by Yaqoob Bangash. The exhibition, held at Ex Farmacia Solveni in Venice's Dorsoduro district, explores Punjab's post-partition identity through memory, craft, and resilience. Butt works across painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, and textiles, elevating marginalized craft traditions as autonomous artistic languages. The show aligns with the biennale theme 'In Minor Keys,' focusing on quiet, process-driven expressions. Born in Lahore in 1973, Butt studied at the National College of Arts and Slade School of Fine Art. Her works are in collections including the British Museum and Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The biennale runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
Key facts
- Faiza Butt represents Pakistan at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026.
- Exhibition titled 'Punj•AB – A Sublime Terrain' curated by Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano.
- Commissioned by Yaqoob Bangash.
- Venue: Ex Farmacia Solveni, Dorsoduro, Venice.
- Examines Punjab's rupture and continuity after the 1947 partition.
- Butt works across painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, and textiles.
- Born in Lahore in 1973, trained at National College of Arts and Slade School of Fine Art.
- Works held in British Museum and Kiran Nadar Museum of Art.
- Biennale runs 9 May to 22 November 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Faiza Butt
- Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano
- Aisha Traub Chan
Institutions
- Ministry of National Heritage and Culture
- National College of Arts
- Slade School of Fine Art
- British Museum
- Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Pakistan’s Ministry of National Heritage and Culture
- Venice Biennale
- ArtAsiaPacific
Locations
- Pakistan
- Venice
- Dorsoduro
- Lahore
- Italy
- London
- United Kingdom
- New Delhi
- India
- Punjab
- Dorsoduro Museum Mile