Venice Biennale jury resigns in latest politically charged controversy at art exhibition
The entire jury of the 2025 Venice Biennale has resigned amid political controversy over the participation of Israel and Russia in the exhibition, stating they would not consider countries accused of crimes against humanity for awards. Their resignation means that several prestigious juried prizes, including the Golden Lion for best national pavilion, will not be awarded. The Biennale will instead replace the traditional jury prizes with visitor-voted awards to be announced at the exhibition's closing in November.
- ▪The Venice Biennale jury, led by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas, resigned collectively over a stance against considering countries accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court for awards.
- ▪The jury’s statement specified they would not evaluate participants from countries under ICC investigation, a move widely interpreted as targeting Israel and Russia.
- ▪In response to the resignations, the Biennale will forgo juried awards and introduce visitor-voted prizes to be given at the end of the exhibition on November 22.
- ▪Russia’s pavilion is allowed only during preview days for professionals, a compromise under scrutiny by the Italian government and EU partners due to sanctions concerns.
- ▪The 2025 exhibition’s overarching theme, 'In Minor Keys,' was conceived by late curator Koyo Kouoh as a critique of Western dominance and a celebration of spiritual and environmental values.
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Open this photo in gallery:A private security officer stands next to Russia's closed pavilion at the 59th Biennale of Arts exhibition in Venice, Italy, on April 19, 2022.Antonio Calanni/The Associated PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountIn the latest controversy to hit the politically besieged Venice Biennale, its entire jury has resigned, part of tangled protests against the participation of Israel and Russia in the prestigious international art show that opens May 9. In a terse statement Thursday, the Biennale announced that it had received the resignations of Brazilian curator Solange Farkas, the jury’s president, along with those of members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi.
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