Curator for the 2024 edition of the Venice Biennale, Adriano Pedrosa, has announced in a press conference last Wednesday, Jan. 31, the long list of 331 artists that will join the annual international culture exhibition alongside other updates and information.
The 2024 Venice Biennale's Focus on 'Outsiders'
Pedrosa, who serves as the artistic director of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo and is the first Latin American to organize the 60th Biennale's main show, has also revealed its theme this year: "Stranieri Ovunque - Foreigners Everywhere."
The Latin American curator shared that his intention for this year's iteration of the annual international exhibition is to focus on the perspectives of outsiders, whether they're new arrivals or are part of minority or Indigenous groups.
Pedrosa added that this overall theme will be explored into two sections: "Nucleo Contemporaneo" (Contemporary Nucleus) and "Nucleo Storico" (Historical Nucleus).
The former will highlight works of "outsiders," specifically those who are viewed as such under a political lens, including queer and Indigenous artists. This particular segment was inspired by curator Marco Scortini's 2005 video project "Disobedience Archive," which explored the line between artistry and political movements.
The latter, on the other hand, will center itself on the works of relatively unknown contemporary movements that gained traction during the 20th century and will mainly feature artists from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
This segment will be further portioned into parts comprising portraiture and artwork showcases made by artists who partook in Italy's first and second-generation migration.
"I myself feel very implicated in many of these themes, concepts, motifs, and frameworks in the exhibition," shared Pedrosa. "I have lived abroad and have been fortunate to travel extensively during my lifetime."
"Yet, often I have also experienced the treatment reserved for a third-world foreigner as I am, although never a refugee and, in fact, holding one of the highest-ranking passports from the Global South."
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From Frida Kahlo to Yonka Shonibare: Artists of the 2024 Venice Biennale
As per Pedrosa, a significant portion of the exhibiting artists are those that have an Indigenous background, those who are originally from the Global South, or those who identify as queer.
The 331 total artists are leaps and bounds above the 213 artists featured in the previous 2022 edition, this includes established living artists who are either emerging or are in the middle of their illustrious careers.
Such artists include Yinka Shonibare, Beatriz Cortez, Olga De Amaral, Disobedience Archive's Hito Stereyl, Simone Forti, Samia Halaby, Lauren Halsey, Rindon Johsnon, Bouchra Khalili, Teresa Margolles, Ahmed Morsi, Puppies Puppies' Jade Guanaro Kuriki, Zilia Sánchez, Ana Segovia, Superflex, Salman Toor, Kay WalkingStick, and WangShui.
In addition to these names, acclaimed historical artists alongside those who have recently passed away will also be featured.
These famed figures include Frida Kahlo, Pacita Abad, Etel Adnan, Huguette Caland, Tarsila do Amaral, Carmen Herrera, María Izquierdo, Wifredo Lam, Judith Lauand, Tina Modotti, Tomie Ohtake, Diego Rivera, Freddy Rodriguez, Jewad Selim, Joaquin Torres-García, and Rubem Valentim.
This year's iteration of the annual Venice Biennale will run from April 20 to Nov. 24. The full list of artists included can be seen in the international cultural exhibition's official press release linked here.
