Venice Biennale

One of the art world’s most prestigious events, the Venice Biennale, dubbed “the Olympics of the art world,” is an international art festival in Italy. Held every two years, the fair comprises a central exhibition in Venice's Giardini and Arsenale, organized by a selected artistic director; a series of national pavilions organized by dozens of countries offering a show of one or more artists; and independently organized, but officially approved exhibitions known as Collateral Events.

The Venice Biennale began with the city's government honoring the silver anniversary of King Umberto I of Italy and Margherita of Savoy by founding an orphanage on April 19, 1893, and establishing a national biennial exhibition of art. The inaugural Biennale was held April 30, 1895, featuring 516 works by artists from 14 nations. It quickly became a major tourist draw and a source of artistic prestige.

Each edition of the show awards three major prizes: a Golden Lion for the best national participation, a Golden Lion for the best participant in the main show, and a Silver Lion for the most promising young participant in the main show. The awards are presented by an international jury of curators following the opening festivities in April.

Every Biennale features a new curator and a new theme. Adriano Pedrosa, artistic director of the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil, curated the 2024 edition, the 60th Biennale, with the theme “Foreigners Everywhere.” Cecilia Alemani, director and chief curator of High Line Art in New York, curated the previous edition in 2022, with the theme "The Milk of Dreams,” which spotlighted women surrealists.