Nearly 200 Venice Biennale Artists Demand Cancellation of Israeli Pavilion Over Gaza Conflict
Nearly 200 participants in the 61st Venice Biennale have signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of Israel’s national pavilion, intensifying geopolitical tensions ahead of the exhibition’s May opening in Venice.
Published today by the activist group Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), the letter—addressed to Biennale leadership—calls for Israel’s immediate exclusion, labeling the planned pavilion a “No Genocide Pavilion” amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Signatories include prominent artists such as Alfredo Jaar, Yto Barrada, Rosana Paulino, Meriem Bennani, Cauleen Smith, Tai Shani, and Sophia Al-Maria, alongside curators like Binna Choi, Carles Guerra, and Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, who is involved in the main exhibition.
The push follows earlier campaigns: Israel’s Giardini pavilion remained closed in 2024 after artist Ruth Patir declined to open amid protests. For 2026, organizers have allocated Israel a 230-square-meter space in the Arsenale—due to renovations at its permanent site—featuring sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru. ANGA argues that platforming a state accused of genocide and decades of occupation contradicts the Biennale’s ethos of artistic dialogue.
The Venice Biennale has defended its stance, emphasizing “artistic freedom” and rejecting exclusionary measures. Previous open letters from ANGA garnered thousands of signatures, threatening broader boycotts if demands go unmet.
As the art world prepares for the event curated under the late Koyo Kouoh’s vision, this latest mobilization underscores how global crises continue to fracture even the most storied international platforms.
