Concordia alum Abbas Akhavan to represent Canada at the 2026 Venice Biennale
When the 2026 edition of the Venice Biennale opens this May, Canada will be represented by a Concordia alumnus: interdisciplinary artist Abbas Akhavan, BFA 04, a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
“The selection of Abbas Akhavan as Canada’s representative is a tremendous source of pride for Concordia,” says Annie Gérin, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “His work exemplifies the thoughtful, boundary-pushing practices we strive to foster in our students. Seeing one of our alumni represent Canada at the Biennale highlights the global impact of Concordia’s creative community.”
Canada’s participation is led by the National Gallery of Canada, in partnership with institutions across the country — including Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts.
Akhavan’s presentation will be installed in the historic Canada Pavilion and curated by Kim Nguyen.
Abbas Akhavan, variations on a folly, 2022. Installation view, study for a garden, Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, UK, 2022. Photo: Keith Hunter. Courtesy Catriona Jeffries, Vancouver and The Third Line, Dubai.
From domestic to global
Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is widely considered the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event, bringing together artists, curators and cultural leaders from more than 90 countries. Canada has participated officially since 1952, presenting innovative artists whose work contributes to international conversations in contemporary art.
Born in Tehran in 1977, Akhavan has lived in Canada for more than three decades and currently divides his time between Montreal and Berlin. His multidisciplinary practice spans site-specific installations, drawing, video, sculpture and performance.
His work often explores spaces just beyond the domestic sphere — gardens, backyards and public parks — examining the relationships between architecture, landscape and everyday life. Through these environments, he reflects on themes such as memory, geopolitics and ecology.
“What this Pavilion and the Venice Biennale mean can only be comprehended in retrospect. But what I am looking forward to is the gathering of the creative community and the chance to see many of my friends again. I am also looking forward to seeing and celebrating the work of the other artists across the exhibitions,” says Abbas Akhavan.
Supporting Canada’s presence in Venice
Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts is is supporting Canada’s presentation at the Biennale alongside the National Gallery of Canada and other institutional partners. The partnership was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Concordia patron Vickie Zhao.
“It is an honour to support Concordia and to celebrate Abbas Akhavan’s selection, which reflects the strength of the Faculty of Fine Arts and the important role artists play in helping us see and understand the world in new ways,” says Zhao.
Each Biennale attracts more than 500,000 visitors to the Canada Pavilion, offering Canadian artists rare exposure to leading curators, collectors, critics and fellow artists from around the world.
Gérin says Akhavan’s appointment as Canada’s official representative underscores the global reach of the Faculty’s artistic community and the enduring influence of its alumni.
As the Venice Biennale prepares to welcome audiences in 2026, the work of a Concordia graduate will stand at the centre of Canada’s artistic voice on the international stage.
For more details on Akhavan’s Biennale showcase, visit the National Gallery of Canada’s website.
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