The International Jury for the 61st Venice Biennale, scheduled to open on 9 May, has resigned.
The brief statement reads: ‘As of 30 April 2026, we, the international jury selected by Koyo Kouoh, Artistic Director of the 61st edition of La Biennale di Venezia In Minor Keys, have resigned. We do so in acknowledgment of our Statement of Intention issued on 22 April 2026.’
The statement of intention cited relates to the decision to exclude from Golden and Silver Lion competition participating ‘countries whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court’ – which, effectively, singles out Russia and Israel.
The jury is presided over by Solange Oliveira Farkas, the founder and artistic director of Associao Cultural Videobrasil, and features Zoe Butt, curator and founder of in-tangible institute and artistic director of deCentral, both in Chiang Mai; Elvira Dyangani Ose, curator and artistic director of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial; Marta Kuzma, curator and professor at the Yale School of Art; and Giovanna Zapperi, art historian, and professor at the University of Geneva.
All members signed the statement.
