kurimanzutto presents a guide to Venice during the Biennale opening week in May. Several artists from our roster will present projects in the official program of the Biennale and across venues throughout the city:
1. gala porras-kim is part of in minor keys
curator: koyo kouoh
arsenale, sale d'armi
Gala Porras-Kim was selected by Koyo Kouoh for the Applied Arts Pavilion in the Arsenale—developed in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, London—for the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, In Minor Keys.
2. untitled (a gathering of remarkable people)
by rirkrit tiravanija
qatar pavilion, giardini
A Gathering of Remarkable People Rirkrit Tiravanija’s project for the Venice Biennale’s Qatar Pavilion, brings together a dynamic group of musicians, poets, chefs, and artists from across the Arab world: Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria, live performances organized by Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui, a large-scale sculpture by Kuwaiti-Puerto Rican artist Alia Farid, and a culinary program of Middle Eastern cuisine put together by Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan.
3. Adrián Villar Rojas in Dont be hope, have hope!
fondazione sandretto re rebaudengo
isola di san giacomo
opening on may 7
Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo presents—on the occasion of the inauguration of its third location—an extensive exhibition program that combines exhibitions, performances, and site-specific installations, featuring projects specifically designed for the new space in the lagoon. In Don’t have hope, be hope! Adrián Villar Rojas presents Return the World II, 2012.
4. soundwalk collective, the ear is the eye of the soul
holy see pavilion, the mystical garden of the discalced carmelites
curators: hans ulrich obrist and ben vickers, in collaboration with soundwalk collective
The Ear is the Eye of the Soul has been conceived in response to Koyo Kouoh’s curatorial proposition for Biennale Arte 2026 to slow down and attune to a quieter register, the exhibition takes the form of a sonic prayer, a call to the contemplative act of listening, inspired by the life and legacy of Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), medieval abbess, poet, healer and composer.
5. marta minujín in darkness visible: the long shadow of dictatorship
spazio punch
The Museo Moderno, in partnership with Spazio Punch, present a collective exhibition that commemorates the painful chapter in Argentina’s history following the coup d’état that ushered in the country’s last military dictatorship fifty years ago. The project includes works by major contemporary Argentinian artists who responded to this historic moment.
6. john giorno: dial-a-poem live in venice
serra dei giardini
tuesday, may 5, 9:30 pm
rsvp@moussepublishing.com
A one-night activation of live poetry readings and performances to celebrate John Giorno and the launch of Dial-A-Poem Italy. Organized by Mousse Magazine in collaboration with Giorno Poetry Systems.
7. jimmie durham, booklaunch: poesiepoems
bruno
A conversation with the book’s editors, Maria Thereza Alves and Salvatore Lacagnina, joined by Margherita Ghella, followed by a light breakfast.
PoesiePoems presents a selection of poems drawn from the author’s three collections—Columbus Day (1983), Poems That Do Not Go Together (2012), and Particle/WordTheory (2020)—here appearing for the first time in Italian translation by Sacha Piersanti, and enriched with previously unpublished texts and drawings from the artist’s archive.
8. bárbara sánchez-kane, chanel next prize winner
Bárbara Sánchez-Kane will receive the CHANEL Next Prize at a private ceremony during the opening weekend of the 2026 Venice Biennale. The artist is one of a group of exceptional artists from ten countries and spanning a variety of disciplines.
Awarded by the Chanel Culture Fund, the prize provides long-term support and an intensive two-year mentorship program, highlighting Chanel’s dedication to fostering the next generation of leading artistic talents.
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