Pussy Riot's Tolokonnikova Vows to Replace Russian Pavilion with Political Prisoner Art
Nadya Tolokonnikova, the founder of Pussy Riot, is advocating for Russia's removal from the Venice Biennale. She suggests that the country's 2028 pavilion be replaced with an exhibition titled 'Resistance Imprisoned,' showcasing 50 pieces created by Russian political prisoners. Although she shared her proposal with Ocula and attempted to submit it to the event's organizers, her efforts were unsuccessful. A similar exhibition was previously displayed at Ritsch-Fisch Galerie in Strasbourg. In December 2025, a Moscow court designated Pussy Riot as 'extremist,' and Tolokonnikova has been labeled a 'foreign agent,' having served time from 2012 to 2013. She intends to invite imprisoned artists to contribute installation ideas. Russia's pavilion, which debuted with 38 artists, closed on May 9, with the EU warning it might violate sanctions.
Key facts
- Nadya Tolokonnikova aims to replace Russia's 2028 Venice Biennale pavilion with an exhibition of works by Russian political prisoners.
- The proposed exhibition 'Resistance Imprisoned' includes 50 works and accounts from prisoners including journalists, activists, scientists, teachers, and Ukrainian fighters.
- Tolokonnikova attempted to deliver the proposal to biennale organizers during the opening week but was turned away.
- A version of 'Resistance Imprisoned' was shown at Ritsch-Fisch Galerie in Strasbourg.
- In December 2025, a Moscow court designated Pussy Riot as an 'extremist organization'; Tolokonnikova is a 'foreign agent' and served prison time in 2012-2013.
- Pussy Riot protested at the 2025 Venice Biennale opening, wearing pink balaclavas and chanting against Putin.
- Russia's pavilion opened with 38 artists but closed to the public on May 9 and remains shut.
- The EU warned that allowing Russia's pavilion could breach sanctions; Baltic pavilions and ministers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine protested Russia's participation.
Entities
Artists
- Nadya Tolokonnikova
- Lyudmila Razumova
- Anastasiya Dudyaeva
- Alexander Dotsenko
- Jan Katelevsky
- Pavel Krisevich
- Vladimir Putin
- Anastasia Karneeva
- Nikolay Volobuyev
Institutions
- Pussy Riot
- Venice Biennale
- Russian Pavilion
- Ritsch-Fisch Galerie
- Ocula
- European Union
- Financial Times
- Christ the Saviour Cathedral
- Art Action
- Ritsche-Fisch Galerie
- Christie's Moscow
- Rostec
- E.U. Commission
- Education and Culture Executive Agency
- Femen
- Russia Pavilion
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Strasbourg
- France
- Moscow
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Giardini