Fondazione Prada Pairs Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince in Venice Exhibition

From May 9 to November 23, 2026, Fondazione Prada in Venice will host "Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince." This exhibition delves into the theme of appropriation through the works of both artists. It will showcase Jafa's video pieces, including "Love is the Message, The Message is Death" (2016), "LOLM" (2022), and "SloPEX" (2023), alongside Prince's photographic collections like "Girlfriends" (1992–93), "Gangs" (1980s), and "Publicities" (1999–). Notably absent will be Prince's contentious "Spiritual America" (1983), which features a rephotograph of a nude ten-year-old Brooke Shields. Jafa, who started as a cinematographer on films like "Crooklyn" (1994) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999), has acknowledged Prince's role in enabling the reinterpretation of images. While Prince has encountered several copyright challenges, including a 2025 deposition in Rome regarding Instagram posts, Jafa has remained unaffected. His works often incorporate found footage depicting police brutality, such as the 2014 arrest of Kametra Barbour and the 2015 attack on Dajerria Becton, along with historical lynchings and references to Dylann Roof. Jafa's montage "The White Album" (2018) earned the Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale. The exhibition will align with the 61st Venice Biennale, occurring from May 9 to November 22, 2026.