Armen Agop has been selected to represent Egypt at the 61st Venice Biennale.
His solo presentation, Silence Pavilion: Between the Tangible and the Intangible, will transform the Egyptian pavilion in the Giardini into a space designed for reflection and sensory engagement. The exhibition will consist of sculptures and paintings arranged across three rooms that progress from the intangible to the tangible and finally to what Agop calls the “mystic invisible”. Visitors will be asked to refrain from speaking or taking photographs, allowing them to move through the space in quiet observation.
Agop’s work focuses on the relationship between material and form. He often works with granite and other solid materials, producing sculptures that emphasise structure and presence. His practice has evolved over more than three decades, combining elements of his Egyptian-Armenian background with experiences from living and working in Italy.
Born in Cairo in 1969, Agop studied at the Faculty of Arts at Helwan University, where he also received an assistant research scholarship. His work has been recognised internationally, including awards such as the Umberto Mastrioanni Award and the Sulmona Prize with the Presidential Medal of the Italian Republic. Agop has participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including solo shows and biennials, and his works are held in public collections such as the Egyptian Modern Art Museum, Mathaf in Doha and SAMoCa in Riyadh.
61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia will run from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
