Artists Threaten Lawsuit as Venice Biennale Award Crisis Deepens
A dispute over the Venice Biennale’s visitor-voted “Visitors’ Lions” awards escalated in early June 2026, with participating artists warning of possible legal action after asking to be removed from the ballot. The conflict followed the resignation of the Biennale’s five-member jury on 30 April 2026 amid controversy related to Israel and Russia, after which the Biennale shifted two Golden Lions to a public vote. Artists argued that keeping them listed despite withdrawal requests undermined transparency and misled visitors whose votes might not be counted.
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This story was covered in Biennial Blowups and Gallery Model Meltdowns