Nabil Nahas to Represent Lebanon at 2026 Venice Biennale with Cosmic Installation

Lebanese-born artist Nabil Nahas will represent Lebanon at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a large-scale installation titled 'Don't Get Me Wrong'. The work, created over eight months, consists of a series of paintings that form a single cohesive piece, described by the artist as a cosmic vision. Nahas, who trained in the United States and initially worked in geometric abstraction, gradually shifted toward a more figurative and organic style after returning to Lebanon following the civil war. His return in 1993 profoundly influenced his work, introducing motifs like palm trees, olive trees, and cedars drawn from childhood memories. The installation at the Biennale reflects his non-linear, instinctive creative process, which he likens to mapping rather than straight-line development. A pivotal moment came in 1991 when a hurricane in the Hamptons left thousands of starfish stranded on the beach, an apocalyptic vision that shifted his aesthetic toward organic forms. Later, a playful experiment connecting the points of a star led him back to geometry through an organic lens. The work for Venice incorporates recurring motifs such as stars, creating continuity amid dissonance. The Lebanon Pavilion will be located at the Giardini and Arsenale from May 9 to November 22, 2026.