Dana Awartani to Represent Saudi Arabia at the 61st Venice Biennale 2026

Dana Awartani

The Saudi Arabian Pavilion has officially announced the selection of acclaimed artist Dana Awartani as the Kingdom’s representative at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, set to take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026 in Venice, Italy.

This prestigious appointment highlights Awartani’s evolving artistic practice, which explores the intersections of heritage, identity, tradition, and contemporary expression. Known for her deep engagement with Islamic geometry, traditional craft techniques, and material culture, Awartani’s work bridges past and present, offering a visual dialogue rooted in cultural memory.

Curatorial Leadership and Vision

The pavilion’s presentation will be curated by Antonia Carver, Director of the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, supported by assistant curator Hafsa Al Khuzai. Together, the curatorial team seeks to explore themes related to the continuity of cultural heritage and the preservation of artisanal knowledge. These ideas echo strongly in Awartani’s practice, which often reflects the aesthetics and craftsmanship of traditional arts while reimagining them in a contemporary context.

One of the conceptual anchors of the pavilion will be Awartani’s ongoing engagement with “minor crafts”—a term linked to the classification introduced by the late American poet and artist Etel Adnan in her final writings. This idea examines how quiet, intimate, and often overlooked forms of making reveal layered stories, spiritual legacies, and collective histories.

Art as Cultural Continuity

Awartani’s work consistently centers the cultural histories of the Middle East. Through textiles, pigments, natural materials, and manual craft processes, she draws attention to the delicate relationship between memory and materiality.

“My practice focuses on highlighting the cultural history of the Middle East through reviving artisanal practices and preserving material heritage that holds global significance.” - Dana Awartani

In a moment when globalization and technological acceleration are reshaping cultural landscapes, Awartani’s work emphasizes the necessity of preservation, continuity, and relevance of heritage in contemporary life.

A Pavilion Rooted in Dialogue

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission, under the Ministry of Culture, is responsible for the Kingdom’s participation. The Biennale is considered one of the world’s most influential art platforms, encouraging international exchange, artistic discourse, and cross-cultural collaboration. Saudi Arabia’s participation reinforces the country’s growing presence and influence in the global art scene.

As the world anticipates the 2026 edition of the Biennale, the Saudi Pavilion promises to offer a thoughtful, historically resonant, and visually compelling experience—one that celebrates the depth of regional heritage while engaging with the global contemporary art conversation.

Source and Photo: Dana Awartani Instagram