Yto Barrada Says France Had ‘Full Awareness’ of Her Views on Israel When It Chose Her for Venice Biennale
Artist Yto Barrada said French organizers had “full awareness” of her views on Israel when selecting her for France’s pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, after criticism from the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF). Barrada, a Paris-born artist of Moroccan descent, signed an open letter organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance calling for Israel’s removal from the Biennale; the letter was also signed by representatives linked to national pavilions from countries including Brazil and Qatar and by nearly a third of the 111 artists in the main exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh, along with two of Kouoh’s curatorial advisers. CRIF urged that Barrada remove her name from the letter and argued she must observe “neutrality” and a “duty of reserve,” while Le Figaro reported the French foreign ministry did not plan to intervene. The Institut français confirmed the pavilion would proceed and said Barrada’s external statements are personal and do not represent the French government; her pavilion, titled “Like Saturn,” is scheduled to open May 9, 2026, and will feature a large-scale devoré textile work, according to a Le Monde profile.
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This story was covered in Venice Defiance, Monuments Return, A.I. Retreat