The Venice Biennale has revealed the list of 111 artists, duos, and collectives for the International Art Exhibition curated in memory of the late Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh. This announcement was made during a livestreamed event on February 25, where Kouoh’s team and biennale officials disclosed the selected artists for the renowned global showcase, set to commence on May 9. This year’s exhibition will feature artists from diverse regions, including the United States, Palestine, Australia, Peru, South Africa, and Zambia, among others.
This edition will notably forgo the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement awards, as Kouoh did not finalize the selections before her passing. Among the notable participants is Lebanese-born artist Khaled Sabsabi, who gained international attention last year after Australia initially revoked and then reinstated his role as the official pavilion artist. Other featured artists include Wangechi Mutu from Kenya, American filmmaker Cauleen Smith, Carolina Caycedo of Colombia and Britain, Kader Attia from Algeria and France, Palestinian painter Mohammed Joha, Shipibo-Conibo Peruvian artist Celia Vásquez Yui, and Salvadoran artist Guadalupe Maravilla.
Kouoh, who passed away last May at 57 due to cancer, was poised to be the first African woman to serve as the biennale’s artistic director. Following her death, the Venice Biennale committed to realizing her vision for In Minor Keys with input from her chosen advisory team, including Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Rasha Salti. Siddhartha Mitter serves as the catalogue editor-in-chief, with Rory Tsapayi as the research assistant. Beckhurst Feijoo emphasized the biennale’s dedication to artists as vital interpreters and catalysts for new social and psychological relations during the announcement.
Before her passing, Kouoh had made significant progress on the exhibition, including its title, concept, and the selection of artists and works. Salti remarked on the thematic essence of ‘minor keys,’ highlighting their role in fostering an alternative listening experience grounded in emotion and poetic improvisation. He described them as a quiet yet powerful force, offering a contrast to more traditional, grandiose expressions.
