Recent Bylines
The application grant portal for the 2026 Venice Biennale, known as the Olympics of the art world, opened to artists months later than usual—and with new criteria written in language that looked a lot like the work of the current administration. With less time, the sudden passing of Koyo Kouoh, the curator of the 2026 Biennale, and a new definition of who the representative artist should be, the question was: Would contenders be able to prepare an exhibit for the U.S. pavilion? And, who should that artist be.
This was a tough piece to write. I have always been on the periphery of the art world, an appreciator rather than a contributor, and was as baffled by the application process for the Venice Biennale as anyone. But after speaking to a dozen sources, hardly any of whom wanted to go on record, I learned that even those active in the art world had at best a foggy idea of how the Biennale application process actually worked. Published by ELLE Decor in May, 2025. Read the piece here. Read the piece here.
