The Latest Breaking News from the Venice Biennale

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama sold 1,500 mirrored balls for $2 each at Venice in 1966, decades later one of her paintings fetched $10.5 million

In 1966, visitors arriving at the Venice Biennale were confronted by an unusual sight. Spread across the lawn outside the Italian Pavilion were 1,500 shimmering silver spheres, each catching fragments of the surrounding architecture, the sky and anyone who stopped to look.

The Times of India · Aug 27

A Venice fly trap: Skip Kapoor, see Singh

Anish Kapoor's London exhibition features visceral art and large-scale installations. The author visited the Venice Biennale, exploring diverse artistic expressions. Dayanita Singh's intimate archival works offered a profound contrast to Kapoor's scale. Lee Ufan presented quieter, contemplative pieces bridging painting and sculpture. The journey through art destinations often lingers longer…

The Economic Times · Aug 22

Copernicus! Tony Soprano! The inventor of the semicolon! The heroic obsessions of artist Isabel Nolan

Ireland’s artist at the Venice Biennale steals religious imagery for her secular celebrations of scientists and humanists, including an Italian punctuation master – and even TV’s famous mobster

The Guardian - UK · Aug 11

This year’s Venice Biennale marks a major shift in European cultural politics

I was texting a museum director friend in Asia recently. We were discussing whether a trip to this year’s “artworld Olympics”, the Venice Biennale, justified the carbon release.

The Conversation · May 14

OPINION - The posturing over the inclusion of Russia and Israel is a betrayal of Venice’s vision

It feels wrong to cancel artists because you disapprove of what their countries are up to, writes Melanie McDonagh

Evening Standard · May 14

EU countries back suspension of funding for the Venice Biennale over Russian participation

Fourteen out of 27 EU member states criticised the reopening of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which sparked a fierce controversy in Italy, as Brussels called for a suspension of funding.

Euronews · May 12

At the Venice Biennale I saw anger at Russia and Israel – and its leadership pretending everything was fine

The festival can often make you queasy, as geopolitics are played out through the proxy of art. This year it feels on the verge of collapsing in on itself, says Charlotte Higgins, the Guardian’s chief culture writer

The Guardian - UK · May 9

Khaled Sabsabi is finally at the Venice Biennale: ‘Being here is already a win’

Australia’s representative at the world’s biggest art show has not one but two works on show – a major achievement and happy ending to a year of controversy and protest

The Guardian - AU · May 8

An outsider artist takes the world's biggest stage with the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

U.S. artist Alma Allen had just months to prepare his exhibition for the Venice Biennale after a fraught selection process came down to the wire

The Independent UK · May 7

What Iran’s absence from the Venice Biennale reveals about art and politics

Just days before the opening of the 2026 Venice Biennale, organisers announced that Iran would no longer participate.

The Conversation · May 7