Zimbabwe Names Five Artists for Venice Biennale 2026 Pavilion

by artweb

Zimbabwe has announced the five artists who will represent the nation at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. The selected artists, Felix Shumba, Eva Raath, Gideon Gomo, Franklyn Dzingai, and Pardon Mapondera, will exhibit under the pavilion theme “Second Nature | Manyonga,” a concept that invites reflection on the intertwined nature of identity, environment, and memory. Announcing the selection at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare, Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe emphasized the importance of self-representation on global stages, saying, “Second Nature can only come from you and not from others, for they are not you and we have never been them.” Since its debut at Venice in 2011 with Seeing Ourselves, the Zimbabwe Pavilion has grown into an essential platform for the nation’s artistic voice, representing resilience, creativity, and a deepening cultural consciousness.

Visual artists representing Zimbabwe at the Venice Biennale 2026 - from top left - Pardon Mapondera, Felix Shuma, Eva Raath, Gideon Gomo. Centre: Franklyn Dzingai

The 61st Venice Biennale will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026, under the overarching theme “In Minor Keys.” The exhibition is curated in memory of the late Koyo Kouoh, whose visionary ideas on art and decolonial thought continue to influence contemporary discourse. Although Kouoh passed away before the opening, the organizers have pledged to realize and preserve her vision through the exhibition, which will occupy the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various other venues across Venice. In Minor Keys will focus on subtle, layered narratives and quiet acts of resistance, those that reveal depth rather than spectacle, and nuance rather than dominance.

Zimbabwe’s continued participation at the Venice Biennale marks not only consistency but also endurance. In a time when many cultural sectors face uncertainty, the country’s sustained presence demonstrates the resilience of its visual arts industry and its determination to remain part of global conversations about art and identity. As the 2026 edition approaches, the Zimbabwe Pavilion promises to be both a reflection of individual artistic voices and a collective statement about persistence, creativity, and the transformative power of art to speak even in minor keys.