Saudi Arabian artist Dana Awartani (Jeddah, 1987), an ethnic Palestinian, will representSaudi Arabia at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, scheduled from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The news, announced by the Visual Arts Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, confirms the country’s desire to consolidate its presence in the global art scene with a participation that combines tradition, research and experimentation.
The Saudi Pavilion exhibition will be curated by Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, with the collaboration of assistant curator Hafsa Alkhudairi. The 2026 edition of the Biennale will be held under the theme “In Minor Keys,” a project conceived by curator Koyo Kouoh, whose vision will be realized posthumously after her passing in May 2025. The theme aims to explore intimate and reflective shades of contemporary art, focusing on practices that intertwine culture, memory and collective sensibility.
Dana Awartani is known for an artistic language that weaves the traditions of Islamic and Arabic art with a contemporary approach, in which innovation and experimentation coexist with the continuity of tradition. Her work is distinguished by a conscious use of materials and an interest in craft practices as a vehicle for knowledge and cultural memory. The artist often collaborates with master artisans who, at home or in the diaspora, guard knowledge passed down through generations and fundamental to collective identity.
Commenting on her nomination, Awartani expressed deep gratitude for the appointment, “I am deeply honored to represent Saudi Arabia and its many cultural voices at the 2026 Art Biennale. I thank the Visual Arts Commission and the Ministry of Culture for this opportunity. My art practice stems from a desire to bring the cultural histories of the Middle East to the forefront through the revival of craft practices and the preservation of the region’s material heritage. Working with my fellow curators, I am excited to be able to develop a new work for the Saudi Pavilion, in keeping with the theme ’In Minor Keys’ and this shared vision.”
For curator Antonia Carver, the collaboration with Awartani represents an opportunity to show the depth and relevance of her work to international audiences. “I am delighted to collaborate with Dana and to present together a project that reflects the complexity and contemporary nature of her research. Dana’s practice investigates cultural heritage and the inherent forces of preservation, recognition and destruction that run through it, a topic that is more urgent today than ever before. I thank the Visual Arts Commission for inviting us to work together to bring Dana’s vision to one of the world’s most influential art platforms, this year inspired by Koyo Kouoh’s vision.”
The Biennale Arte 2026 will mark Saudi Arabia’s fifth national participation in the Venice International Art Exhibition, a milestone that confirms the country’s commitment to promoting contemporary creativity and intercultural dialogue. Chief Executive Officer of the Visual Arts Commission, Dina Amin, emphasized that this appointment represents a significant moment for the Saudi art scene: “We are immensely proud to present Dana Awartani as Saudi Arabia’s representative for our fifth participation in the Biennale Arte. This representation reflects the diversity of artistic voices in the Kingdom, consolidating an enduring legacy of Saudi arts on the global stage. Dana is the fourth woman to represent the Kingdom in our participations, underscoring the critical role of Saudi women artists in the visual arts. We celebrate this collective achievement and look forward to welcoming the world to our pavilion.”
The Saudi Pavilion, set up as usual at the Arsenale, Sale d’Armi, will host a new site-specific installation by Awartani, conceived especially for the Venice Biennale. Although details of the project will be announced in 2026, the exhibition promises to offer a reflection on the relationship between material culture and spirituality, between historical time and the present.
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| Venice Biennale, an all-female team for Saudi Arabia pavilion |
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