Sara Shamma at the Venice Biennale 2026

The 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia will run from 9 May to 22 November 2026.

Sara Shamma has been selected at the 61st Venice Biennale. The Syrian pavilion, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, will be curated by Yuko Hasegawa, an art critic and director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan, and will be on display in the open-air courtyard of the Università IUAV di Venezia (University Institute of Architecture of Venice), Cotonificio campus.

The multi-sensory pavilion will be titled "The Tower Tomb of Palmyra" and will focus on the ancient city of Palmyra, once ruled by the legendary warrior queen Zenobia.

The Syrian-British artist Shamma is widely regarded as one of today's leading contemporary artists. Her work has been presented internationally in more than 25 solo exhibitions. Among the most notable are Echoes of 12 Years, shown at the National Museum of Damascus between 2024 and 2025; Interference Green at Mark Hachem Gallery in 2025; Bold Spirits at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2023; and Modern Slavery, exhibited at King's College London as well as in several cathedrals across the UK from 2019 to 2021.

Her artistic practice focuses on the human condition, often expressed through powerful and emotionally charged figurative painting. Shamma's works are held in important public collections, including those of the British Council and the UAE Ministry of Culture, alongside numerous private collections.

Featured artwork: Sara Shamma, Untitled, 2024, oil on canvas, 200 × 175 cm

Photography credits: Sara Shamma by M. Azaat. Yuko Hasegawa by K. Kioku.