Neri Torcello on African Art in Venice Forum 2026: Beyond Visibility

The African Art in Venice Forum (AAVF) returns on May 5–6, 2026, ahead of the Venice Biennale, with the theme "Beyond Visibility: A Method of Inquiry." Founded in 2017 by Neri Torcello, the Forum provides a discursive space for African contemporary art, filling the gap left by the absence of many African national pavilions. This year, a new partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) and curator Kevin Dumouchelle deepens the Forum's research capacity. Torcello emphasizes that the Forum does not aim to replace pavilions but offers a fluid, non-hierarchical model for dialogue. It prioritizes conversation over exhibitions, creating a space for slow reflection amid the Biennale's visual density. Torcello notes that while visibility of African art has increased, the real challenge is to change how narratives are constructed. The Forum involves collectors, gallerists, and institutions as cultural interlocutors, not just economic actors. Torcello envisions the Forum as a "home" for ongoing inquiry, resisting the market's tendency to simplify complexity.