Abbas Akhavan has been selected to represent Canada at the 61st Venice Biennale which will take place from April to November 2026.
Akhavan was chosen by a committee with a specialty in contemporary Canadian art made up of Julie Crooks, Léuli Eshrāghi, Crystal Mowry, Daina Warren, Pan Wendt and Jean-François Bélisle, Director & CEO of the National Gallery of Canada.
The artist, originally from Iran, is currently based between Montreal and Berlin. His practice employs a wide range of media such as temporary installation, video, drawing, sculpture and performance in an effort to understand the dichotomy between public and private space while engaging with questions of geopolitics and history and how these shape the places that surround us. Akhavan has exhibited his work in numerous solo exhibitions in Canada and abroad, with an upcoming mid-career retrospective at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in 2026, as well as the recipient of the Sobey Art Award in 2015.
Jean-François Bélisle, Director & CEO of the National Gallery of Canada, commissioner of the Canada Pavilion in Venice, said: “The Biennale Arte is a vital forum where the world comes together and talks through art. The National Gallery of Canada is uniquely positioned to bring together artists, art institutions, and cultural organizations from across the country to celebrate Canadian talent on the global stage and facilitate connections in the art world. We are thrilled to announce that Abbas Akhavan has been nominated to represent Canada at the 61st International Art Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia. Abbas’ work is shaped by the unique characteristics of the sites he works on, including the architectures, surrounding economies, and individuals who frequent them. We look forward to supporting him in bringing this vision to life at the Canada Pavilion.”
