Vatican Pavilion Names 24 Artists for 61st Venice Biennale, Curated by Obrist and Vickers
The Facts
The Holy See Pavilion announced the 24 artists participating in the 61st Venice Biennale, in a press release dated July 24, 2026. Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the exhibition, titled "L'orecchio è l'occhio dell'anima," will be staged across two venues in Venice: the Giardino Mistico in Cannaregio and the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Castello. Inspired by the 12th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen, the presentation includes new commissions from artists such as Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith, Meredith Monk, and Alexander Kluge, whose final work will be shown posthumously. The pavilion responds to curator Koyo Kouoh's theme for the Biennale, which calls for a slower, more contemplative register.
The Signal
The Vatican's continued commitment to contemporary art at the Biennale signals a deepening institutional engagement with experimental, sound-based practices and spiritual themes. The inclusion of a posthumous installation by Alexander Kluge, who died in March 2026, adds a memorial dimension. The dual-venue setup—one a monastic garden, the other a former convent turned scriptorium—underscores a curatorial interest in site-specific, meditative experiences. For collectors and curators, the pavilion's roster, which blends established figures like Terry Riley with emerging voices, may signal a shift toward sonically driven, immersive works within biennial contexts.
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- Artists: Bhanu Kapil, Brian Eno, Carminho, Caterina Barbieri, Devonté Hynes, FKA Twigs, Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, Jim Jarmusch, Kali Malone, Kazu Makino, Laraaji, Meredith Monk, Moor Mother, Otobong Nkanga, Patti Smith, Precious Okoyomon, Raúl Zurita, Soundwalk Collective, Stephan Crasneanscki, Simone Merli, Suzanne Ciani, Terry Riley, Alexander Kluge, Ilda David', Tatiana Bilbao, MAIO Architects, Dogma Architects
- People: Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ben Vickers, Koyo Kouoh, Card. José Tolentino de Mendonça, Pope Leone XIV, Suor Maura Zátonyi OSB
- Locations: Venice
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