Palestinian Saudi visual artist Dana Awartani will be Saudi Arabia’s representative at the 61st Venice Biennale, making her the fourth woman to represent the Kingdom at the prestigious event, which is slated to run from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission, will be curated by Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, alongside Saudi Iraqi curator Hafsa Alkhudairi.

Based between New York and Jeddah, Dana draws on Islamic and Arab aesthetic traditions to create paintings, sculptures, performances, and installations that probe the spatial and historical dimensions of Middle Eastern culture.

Carver remarked in a press release that Awartani’s practice “explores cultural heritage and the inherent forces of preservation, recognition, and destruction within—a subject that has perhaps never been more crucial than now.”

Awartani expressed her gratitude over the announcement, stating: “I am deeply honored to be representing Saudi Arabia and its diverse cultural voices and communities at the Biennale.

Commenting on the artist selection, Dina Amin, chief executive officer of the Visual Arts Commission, noted that Awartani “brilliantly underscor[es] the profound contributions of Saudi women in the visual arts. We celebrate this collective achievement and look forward to welcoming the world to our pavilion.”

Iain Cocks is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.