Abbas Akhavan to Represent Canada at 2026 Venice Biennale

The National Gallery of Canada selects Tehran-born artist for the prestigious international art exhibition.

Akhavan is known for his multidisciplinary practice that explores geopolitical forces and the spaces they define.
The artist has lived and worked in Montreal and Berlin, creating installations that examine public and private spaces.
His selection was made by a committee of Canadian art experts chaired by Jean-François Bélisle.
The Canada Pavilion is a modernist structure in Venice's park, nestled among classical European pavilions.
Akhavan's work will be featured in a mid-career retrospective at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in November 2026.