Venice Biennale Faces Legal Action From Artists Over Awards Ballot

Artforum is a part of Penske Media Corporation. (c) 2026 Artforum Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Home News Venice Biennale Faces Legal Action After Including 100+ Artists in Prize Competition Against Their Wishes By News Desk Plus icon More Alan Saret, Author of Transcendent Wire Sculptures, Dead at 81 Read more French Street Artist JR’s Paris Installation Postponed Due to Wind Damage Read more Makeda Best to Lead MoMA’s Photography Department Read more June 3, 2026 10:45 am People walk near the pavilion that hosts the exhibition “In Minor Keys,” curated by Koyo Kouoh, during the pre-opening press view of the 61st Venice Biennale, May 5, 2026. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images. Share Share on Facebook Post google Google Preferred Show more sharing options Share on WhatsApp Email Print This Page Share on LinkedIn Pin it Share to Flipboard Submit to Reddit Post to Tumblr More than one hundred artists participating in the 2026 Venice Biennale have said they will pursue legal action unless their names are removed from the ballot for the event's Visitors' Lions awards. Like the conventional Golden Lion awards, the prizes are awarded to the best artist in the main exhibition and best national pavilion. Unlike the Golden Lion, the Visitor s Lions awards are voted on by popular decision by members of the public, as opposed to a jury. The honors were established after the entire jury responsible for selecting the winners of the Golden and Silver Lions, historically awarded in both the aforementioned categories, resigned en masse earlier this spring after announcing that they would omit from consideration artists and pavilions representing countries whose leaders had been accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. Related Trump Re-Erects Statue of Slave-Owner in Washington, DC Federal Bill Creating Smithsonian Women’s Museum Scuttled Over Demand That It Honor Only “Biological” Females