The Facts
On September 28, 2026, Lisson Gallery announced that Marina Abramović's major exhibition 'Transforming Energy' is on view at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice until October 19, 2026. Marking the artist's 80th birthday, the exhibition brings together key performances, interactive 'Transitory Objects', and new works spanning her lifelong exploration of endurance, vulnerability and transformation. At the heart of the exhibition, 'Pietà (with Ulay)' (1983) is presented in dialogue with Titian's 'Pietà' (c. 1575–76), connecting Abramović's practice with the Renaissance tradition of the human body as a site of suffering, transcendence and spiritual transformation. Visitors are invited to engage physically and meditatively with the works, moving beyond passive observation towards presence and participation.
The Signal
The exhibition positions Abramović's endurance-based practice within a canonical art-historical context, pairing her work with a Renaissance master in a major Venetian institution. For collectors and curators, this institutional validation at a milestone birthday reinforces Abramović's standing as a living legend of performance art, while the interactive elements signal a continued market interest in experiential and participatory works. The dialogue with Titian also highlights the enduring relevance of themes of suffering and transcendence, potentially influencing how contemporary performance is valued alongside traditional media.
- Artists: Marina Abramović
- People: Marina Abramović, Ulay, Titian
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Gallerie dell'Accademia
- Locations: Venice
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