Visual artist Abbas Akhavan to represent Canada at 2026 Venice Biennale exhibition

Advertisement

Advertise with us

OTTAWA - Montreal-based visual artist Abbas Akhavan will represent Canada at one of the biggest and most prestigious art forums in the world.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/10/2024 (707 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – Montreal-based visual artist Abbas Akhavan will represent Canada at one of the biggest and most prestigious art forums in the world.

The National Gallery of Canada says the Tehran-born artist has been chosen to showcase at the next Venice Biennale, set to run from April to November 2026.

The selection committee describes Akhavan as “a meticulous artist and thinker” whose interests include exploring issues around memory and place.

The National Gallery is set to announce the artist who will represent Canada at the 2026 Venice Biennale, considered the largest and most prestigious contemporary art exhibition in the world. Canadian visual artist Abbas Akhavan is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alex de Brabant, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The National Gallery is set to announce the artist who will represent Canada at the 2026 Venice Biennale, considered the largest and most prestigious contemporary art exhibition in the world. Canadian visual artist Abbas Akhavan is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alex de Brabant, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

The 46-year-old creates works that involve installations, drawing, video, sculpture and performance. He won Canada’s prestigious Sobey Art Award in 2015.

Akhavan has been based in Canada for 30 years and also lives and works in Berlin.

The Venice Biennale international art exhibition has helped launch or promote the careers of Canadian artists including Jean Paul Riopelle, Michael Snow, Geneviève Cadieux and Stan Douglas.

Hamilton-born, Paris-based creator Kapwani Kiwanga was chosen to represent Canada at the 2024 Venice Biennale, which began April 20 and runs to Nov. 24.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Manitoba PCs choose Narth as interim leader; ‘deeply hurt’ Khan blasts former caucus colleagues

Carol Sanders 7 minute read Preview

Manitoba PCs choose Narth as interim leader; ‘deeply hurt’ Khan blasts former caucus colleagues

Carol Sanders 7 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative caucus chose MLA Konrad Narth as interim party leader Tuesday to replace Obby Khan, who quit a day earlier after he said he was stabbed in the back by a small group of caucus members plotting in secret to oust him.

Read
Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

‘Warmest welcome’ at Manitoba, U.K. defence partnership summit

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:09 PM CDT

The working name of Manitoba’s newest defence-focused group is Tea and Textiles.

Carole and Tim Champion may become members. The British entrepreneurs spent Tuesday touring Boeing, StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, pondering how they could partner with the businesses.

They own Needles and Pins Aerospace, a United Kingdom-based company that makes and repairs covers and interior fabrics for aircraft. The firm holds internationally recognized quality management standards.

“I think we could bring something to the party,” Carole said post-tours.

Netminder no stranger to heavy workload as Jets new No. 1 readies for regular-season start

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Netminder no stranger to heavy workload as Jets new No. 1 readies for regular-season start

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Yesterday at 2:42 PM CDT

Stuart Skinner is quick to admit that he wasn’t always wired this way.

As the Winnipeg Jets new starting goalie prepares for his fifth NHL season, Skinner conceded that the accountability aspect that is now synonymous with his character took some time to build up.

“As I grew up and got older, you go through certain things in life that either build character or make things worse for you. It depends on your choice and your decision,” Skinner said during a recent conversation with the Free Press. “I learned it through trial and error. I learned that, sometimes, it’s hard to get honest with yourself… For me, it’s definitely been a road for me to get to a place like this.

“It definitely is one of my pillars. Accountability is so important because that brings you into a spot of what you’re going to do next. It’s easy to let yourself off the hook. I’m more in the business of putting myself on the hook.”

Read
Yesterday at 2:42 PM CDT

Acquisition of former residential school grounds will help educate future generations: premier

Connor McDowell and Morgan Modjeski 6 minute read Preview

Acquisition of former residential school grounds will help educate future generations: premier

Connor McDowell and Morgan Modjeski 6 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

Premier Wab Kinew says a former Brandon-area campground acquired by the province will help educate future generations about the horrors of residential schools.

“We live in an era where people are trying to deny what happened in residential schools,” Kinew said during a Tuesday afternoon visit to Turtle Crossing Campground, near the former Brandon Indian Residential School. “It’s an important part of our national history, and keeping that truth alive.”

Kinew officially announced the province’s plan Tuesday, in partnership with the City of Brandon, to acquire and protect the site where the bodies of more than 50 Indigenous children are located.

The premier said the property has “huge national significance” for education about residential school history because it is one of the “most documented” in the country. He carried photographs, and some 20th century newspaper clippings from the Brandon Sun around the site Tuesday.

Read
Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

Woman took ‘meaningful’ responsibility after disposing of body: lawyer

Dean Pritchard 5 minute read Preview

Woman took ‘meaningful’ responsibility after disposing of body: lawyer

Dean Pritchard 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

A woman who was threatened with death if she didn’t help dispose the body of a Mexican man murdered in the basement of a North End home should serve no more jail time, a judge has been told.

Devlin Langlois, 25, has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in the March 2025 killing of 28-year-old Diego Moscoza.

“By pleading guilty, Ms. Langlois has already taken meaningful accountability for her actions,” defence lawyer Joshua Rogala told King’s Bench Justice Candace Grammond at a sentencing hearing Monday.

He urged the judge to sentence Langlois to the equivalent of 14 months already served, plus two years supervised probation.

Read
Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Man charged after drugs, thousands of dollars seized

2 minute read Yesterday at 10:17 AM CDT

A 24-year-old man has been charged with numerous offences following a drug trafficking investigation by Winnipeg police.

In September, the Organized Crime Unit (OCU), initiated an investigation involving an individual and a residence in the 300 block of Stradbrook Avenue.

On Sept. 22, with the assistance of the Tactical Support Team (TST) and the Central District Community Support Team, officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver refused to stop and fled, colliding with another vehicle. A suspect was arrested a short time later after a brief foot pursuit. No injuries were reported as a result of the motor vehicle collision.

Subsequent search warrants were executed on the suspect’s vehicle and a residence on Stradbrook. Officers seized three ounces of cocaine (estimated street value $6,000); approximately $30,000 in Canadian currency; approximately $13,000 in counterfeit currency; packaging and other illicit drug paraphernalia; a scale; a vacuum sealer; fraudulent photo ID; and three cellphones.