The International Jury of the 61st. International Art Exhibition, In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh (May 9-Nov. 22, 2026), composed of Solange Farkas (president), Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, Giovanna Zapperi. This has just been announced in a note by the Venice Biennale. The reasons are not yet known.
In view of the resignations, as well as the exceptional nature of the current international geopolitical situation, the Venice Biennale also announces that the awards ceremony of the 61. International Art Exhibition, already scheduled for May 9, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, the last day it will be open to visitors, as was the case previously for other exceptional situations (2021 edition of the International Architecture Exhibition, due to Covid).
As a result, the Venice Biennale has decided to establish for the 61st. International Art Exhibition two Visitors’ Lions to be awarded to the best participant of the 61. Exhibition In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh and to the best National Participation of the 61. Exhibition.
Ticket holders who have visited the two exhibition venues within the time frame of the opening of the 61st Exposition will be eligible to vote for the Visitors’ Lions. Exposition, from May 9 to November 22. Visits to the two venues will be evidenced by tracking done by the ticketing system. The ticket holder will only be able to cast one vote for each of the two awards, in a single session. Artist collectives will be identified as individual participants, as per the In Minor Keys exhibition participant list.
The Biennale emphasizes that the Visitors’ Lion for the best National Participation competes for all National Participations present at the 61. Exhibition, as per the official list, following the principle of inclusion and equal treatment among all participants. “This is in keeping with the founding spirit of the Biennale itself based on openness, dialogue and the rejection of all forms of closure and censorship. The Biennale wants and confirms itself as a place of truce in the name of art, culture and artistic freedom,” the press note reads.
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| Venice Biennale, international jury resigned. Award ceremony postponed |
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