The 61st Venice Biennale, due to open in April 2026, is yet to announce its curator, but many nations are already making plans for which artists will represent their national pavilions.
Abbas Akhavan has been selected to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale, the National Gallery of Canada announced. Born in Tehran and based between Montreal and Berlin, Akhavan’s multidisciplinary practice reflects on the geopolitical forces which define spaces. He was the recipient of the Sobey Art Award in 2015, and in November 2026, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis will present a mid-career survey of Akhavan’s work.
For Akhavan, the passage of time ‘becomes a bizarre kind of film-set, through which we move, back and forth: history as a tangled, non-linear stream of images,’ En Liang Khong wrote for ArtReview of Akhavan’s curtain call, variations on a folly (2021) at Chisenhale Gallery, London.
‘Abbas’s work is shaped by the unique characteristics of the sites he works on, including the architectures, surrounding economies, and individuals who frequent them,’ National Gallery of Canada director and Canada Pavilion commissioner Jean-François Bélisle said in a statement. ‘We look forward to supporting him in bringing this vision to life at the Canada Pavilion.’
Follow our rolling coverage of the Pavilion announcements, updated as and when they come.
