La Biennale
di Venezia
2026
Abbas Akhavan represents Canada at the 61st International Art Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia 2026.
Born in Tehran and based between Montreal and Berlin, Abbas Akhavan’s multidisciplinary practice reflects on the relationships between place and history, attending to the geopolitical forces which define spaces.
Akhavan’s practice ranges across site-specific ephemeral installations to drawing, video, sculpture, and performance. The direction of his research has been deeply influenced by the specificity of the sites in which he works, including the architectures that house them, the economies that surround them, and the individuals that frequent them.
Photo: Alex de Brabant (2024)
The National Gallery at the Venice Biennale
Canada began participating in the Biennale in 1952, sharing space in the international section of the Esposizione internazionale d’arte della città di Venezia. In 1958, at the invitation of the City of Venice, Canada opened its own pavilion, under the auspices of the National Gallery of Canada, in the Giardini, the main venue of the biannual art festival. Designed and built by the celebrated Studio BBPR of Milan, the Canada Pavilion is considered an important architectural feature of the Giardini to this day, and enjoys special heritage designation.
Canada’s representation at the Biennale has played a part in shaping the role and place of Canadian contemporary art within international circles, elevating the international careers of many of the country’s most celebrated artists, including Emily Carr, David Milne, Jean Paul Riopelle, Alex Colville, Guido Molinari, Michael Snow, General Idea, Geneviève Cadieux, Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller, Rebecca Belmore, David Altmejd, Shary Boyle, the artist collective Isuma, Stan Douglas, and Kapwani Kiwanga. Today, the National Gallery of Canada oversees Canada’s representation at the Venice Biennale. The Director’s Office convenes a national jury to select the artist. The Gallery leadership role includes providing administrative, fundraising and curatorial support to the project.
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Learn more about how you can support Canadian Artists in Venice through The Canadian Artists in Venice Endowment and The Canadian Artists in Venice Exhibition Fund.
Canada Pavilion
in Venice
After six decades presenting some of the country’s most celebrated artists and architects, the Canada Pavilion in Venice, Italy underwent a major, $3-million restoration. The designated heritage building is an important architectural landmark in the Giardini di Castello, the traditional site of the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia. Restored to its original 1957 design with functional upgrades, the renewed Pavilion was officially unveiled on May 26, 2018 at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition.
Watch the Film:
Open Sky: Portrait of a Pavilion in Venice
Filmmaker Katerine Giguère has crafted an intimate portrait of the pavilion, which has become emblematic of the bold vision of Canadian creators.
A National Film Board of Canada production in collaboration with the National Gallery of Canada and the National Gallery of Canada Foundation.
Tucked between the pavilions of Great Britain and Germany, the Canada Pavilion embraces its wooded site. The building fully integrates two large living trees within its perimeter walls. Shaped in plan like a nautilus shell, the building spirals out from a tapered octagonal column at its centre that supports the dramatic beams of its roof structure. When the Pavilion was unveiled in June 1958, it was described as a “small jewel of a showcase.”
Featured Video:
City out of Time
In the spring of 1958, director Colin Low and a team from the National Film Board of Canada filmed a documentary in Venice: City out of Time. Watch excerpts from the film, which feature images of the Canada Pavilion when it was newly constructed.
CATALOGUE
The Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Featuring reproductions of archival material including photographs, drawings, and maps, along with a portfolio from contemporary photographers, this commemorative publication illuminates the great importance of the Pavilion in the context of modern architecture, art and culture, and international political diplomacy.
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With contributions by Réjean Legault, Susanna Caccia Gherardini, Karen Colby-Stothart, Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Serena Maffioletti, Cammie McAtee, and Franco Panzini. Hardcover | 192 pages
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