The Facts
On September 14, 2026, Lisson Gallery released an interview with Anish Kapoor on the occasion of his presentations at Palazzo Manfrin in Venice, the Hayward Gallery in London, Serlachius Manor in Mänttä, Finland, and the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah. In the interview, Kapoor pushes back against museums' focus on artists' origins, stating that the fundamental question is whether an object holds poetic value. He reflects on his own background—born in India to a Punjabi Hindu father and an Iraqi-Jewish mother, educated at the Doon School and later on a kibbutz in Israel, before studying art in London—and notes that his identity defies easy categorization. Kapoor, who represented Britain at the Venice Biennale before becoming a citizen, was once regarded as part of a British school of contemporary sculpture alongside Antony Gormley and Rachel Whiteread.
The Signal
The interview signals Kapoor's continued resistance to biographical readings of his work, urging viewers toward a more interrogative engagement. He rejects both the label of universalism and the idea that responses should be purely visceral, instead advocating for a blend of sensation and intellect. For collectors and curators, Kapoor's stance reinforces the challenge his work presents: it demands attention to form and material without the handrails of autobiography. The simultaneous presentations across four institutions in Europe and the United States underscore his sustained international relevance and the gallery's commitment to positioning his practice across diverse contexts.
- Artists: Anish Kapoor
- People: William Feaver
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Hayward Gallery, SCAD Museum of Art, Serlachius Manor, Palazzo Manfrin
- Locations: Venice, London, Mänttä, Savannah
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