Protests and boycotts rock prestigious Venice Biennale

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Europe Protests and boycotts rock prestigious Venice Biennale May 9, 20269:41 PM ET Chloe Veltman Pussy Riot and FEMEN activists protest Russia's presence after its absence following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine in front of the Russian pavilion at the 2026 Art Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy, on May 6, 2026. Luca Bruno/AP hide caption toggle caption Luca Bruno/AP The 61st Venice Biennale opened Saturday in a chaotic atmosphere marked by geopolitical strife, overshadowing what draws people to the world-renowned festival: the contemporary art on display. In tandem with the opening, dozens of artists announced their withdrawal from awards consideration — the latest in a wave of protests surrounding the international art event that has historically celebrated the likes of Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, and Jackson Pollock.

Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar and Zoe Leonard are among the high-profile signatories who backed the statement of withdrawal, along with such national pavilions as France, Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates. Sponsor Message "We do so in solidarity with the resignation of the jury," the statement said, alluding to the mass resignation, on Apr. 30, of the entire five-member Biennale awards jury.

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The resignation of jury members Solange Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi, occurred days after they announced they would not award prizes – including the prestigious Golden Lion for best national pavilion – to countries whose governments or leaders have been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, including Israel and Russia. This year, the Biennale announced ticket-holders to the event will get to choose the winners through an anonymous email-voting process. Award recipients are expected to be announced on Nov.

22, the Biennale's closing day. Featuring work by hundreds of artists from across the globe, the prestigious event typically attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to a slew of national pavilions organized and partially funded by the participating countries' governments. Rowdy protests on the streets of Venice The event has also been beset by multiple large, public demonstrations in the streets of Venice.

On Thursday, the art collective Pussy Riot protested Russia's return to the art festival by storming the country's pavilion in bright pink balaclava hats, set off smoke flares and chanted the slogan "No Putin in Venice. " Russia had not been invited to the event since 2022. Sponsor Message Thousands of demonstrators also took to the streets on Friday to protest Israel's presence at the event over the war in Gaza.

Some pavilions, including those belonging to Japan, Finland and the UK, shuttered for hours while artists and curators joined the march. According to The Guardian, the Israeli pavilion was closed on Friday morning – but that was owing to a private event. Other countries have also been caught up in the geopolitical wrangling over the war in Gaza.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.