Simone Leigh Wins Golden Lion at 2022 Venice Biennale
The 59th Venice Biennale commenced on April 23, 2022, featuring awards presented by an international jury appointed by curator Cecilia Alemani. The Golden Lion for Best National Participation was awarded to Great Britain for Sonia Boyce's work, recognized for highlighting overlooked voices. Simone Leigh earned the Golden Lion for Best Artist for her sculpture showcased at the USA Pavilion. Ali Cherri received the Silver Lion for his project in "The Milk of Dreams." Special mentions included Shuvinai Ashoona and Lynn Hershman Leeson, while national pavilion acknowledgments went to France (Zineb Sedira) and Uganda (Acaye Kerunen and Collin Sekajugo). Katharina Fritsch and Cecilia Vicuña were honored with Lifetime Achievement Golden Lions.
Key facts
- 59th Venice Biennale opened April 23, 2022
- Jury chaired by Adrienne Edwards (Whitney Museum)
- Simone Leigh won Golden Lion for Best Artist (USA Pavilion)
- Silver Lion awarded to Ali Cherri (Lebanon)
- Golden Lion for Best National Participation: Great Britain (Sonia Boyce)
- Special mentions: Shuvinai Ashoona, Lynn Hershman Leeson
- National pavilion mentions: France (Zineb Sedira), Uganda (Acaye Kerunen, Collin Sekajugo)
- Lifetime Golden Lions: Katharina Fritsch and Cecilia Vicuña
Entities
Artists
- Simone Leigh
- Ali Cherri
- Sonia Boyce
- Shuvinai Ashoona
- Lynn Hershman Leeson
- Zineb Sedira
- Acaye Kerunen
- Collin Sekajugo
- Katharina Fritsch
- Cecilia Vicuña
- Cecilia Alemani
- Adrienne Edwards
- Lorenzo Giusti
- Julieta González
- Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung
- Susanne Pfeffer
- Luca Zaia
- Andrea Tomaello
- Dario Franceschini
- Archie Moore
- Mataaho Collective
- Karimah Ashadu
- Samia Halaby
- La Chola Poblete
- Doruntina Kastrati
- Anna Maria Maiolino
- Nil Yalter
- Alberto Villa
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Whitney Biennial
- GAMeC Bergamo
- Instituto Inhotim
- SAVVY Contemporary Berlin
- MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST Frankfurt
- USA Pavilion
- Great Britain Pavilion
- France Pavilion
- Uganda Pavilion
- Palazzo Palumbo Fossati
- Artribune
- Biennale di Venezia
- Ca' Giustinian
- Columbia University
- Museo Storico Navale di Venezia
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Ca' Giustinian
- Arsenale
- Giardini
- Berlin
- Germany
- Bergamo
- Brazil
- Frankfurt
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Uganda
- France
- Great Britain
- United States
- Chile
- Corderie dell'Arsenale
- Padiglione Centrale dei Giardini
- Museo Storico Navale
- Castello
- Australia
- Nigeria
- Lagos
- Jerusalem
- Gaza
- Mendoza
- Argentina
- Kosovo
- Toowoomba
- London