Venice Biennale Jury Excludes Countries with ICC Warrants
The jury of the Venice Art Biennale, chaired by Brazilian art historian Solange Farkas, announced it will not consider countries whose heads of state face International Criminal Court (ICC) allegations of crimes against humanity. While no specific nations were named, current ICC arrest warrants target Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Neither has been indicted, as indictment requires arrest. The Biennale leadership affirmed the jury's autonomy, calling the decision a natural expression of freedom. The announcement adds to existing controversy over Russia's readmission to the Biennale for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a move that drew EU threats to cut millions in subsidies.
Key facts
- The Venice Biennale jury will exclude countries whose leaders face ICC allegations of crimes against humanity.
- The jury is chaired by Solange Farkas.
- ICC arrest warrants exist for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Neither Putin nor Netanyahu have been indicted.
- The Biennale leadership stated the jury acts autonomously.
- Russia is readmitted to the Biennale for the first time since 2022.
- The EU threatened to cut subsidies over Russia's participation.
- The decision is a positioning made public by the jury members.
Entities
Artists
- Solange Farkas
- Koyo Kouoh
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- European Union
- La Biennale di Venezia
- International Criminal Court
- European Commission
- e-flux
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
- Rome
- Moscow