Venice Biennale Awards Jury Won’t Consider Russia and Israel
The international awards jury for the 61st Venice Biennale announced on April 23 (via a statement published on e-flux) that it will omit from awards consideration any countries “whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity” by the International Criminal Court. Although the statement did not name nations, Hyperallergic reports Russia and Israel are implicated because ICC arrest warrants have been issued for President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in relation to Ukraine and Gaza, respectively. The all-women jury is chaired by Solange Farkas and includes Elvira Dyangani Ose, Zoe Butt, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, and it is responsible for two Golden Lions: best national pavilion and best artist in the central exhibition “In Minor Keys,” curated by the late artistic director Koyo Kouoh. The decision comes amid criticism of the Biennale Foundation for allowing Israel and Russia to participate in 2026, with nearly 10,000 people signing an open letter opposing Russia’s return after it missed the past two editions (including a 2022 withdrawal by Kirill Savchenkov and Alexandra Sukhareva and a 2024 pavilion loan to Bolivia).
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This story was covered in Museums on Delay, Biennales Draw New Lines