What is the Venice Biennale?
Jude Chambers talks about why New Zealand is represented at the Venice Biennale, the challenges in exhibiting there, and how artists are chosen.
New Zealand at the Venice Biennale
Once every two years, the art world goes nuts for one of the most important art exhibitions on the planet – La Biennale di Venezia. It’s an exciting global event, and Aotearoa New Zealand supports its very best contemporary artists to exhibit there.
In this section, explore the history of the event, the city, and the participating Aotearoa New Zealand artists who have exhibited on this global art stage.
Timeline: New Zealand at the Venice Biennale
Explore a timeline of Aotearoa New Zealand artists for the Venice Biennale, including Fiona Pardington, Mataaho, Simon Denny, Michael Parekowhai, and Francis Upritchard.
2026 Venice Biennale – Fiona Pardington
Fiona Pardington is the Aotearoa New Zealand artist for the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
Aotearoa New Zealand Artists at Venice
Read about , the eight artists in 2024, Yuki Kihara, Dane Mitchell, Lisa Reihana, Simon Denny, Bill Culbert, Michael Parekōwhai, Judy Millar, Francis Upritchard, ET AL., Michael Stevenson, Peter Robinson, and Jacqueline Fraser.
This page will take you to the NZ at Venice website.
2017 – Lisa Reihana at Venice and the learning resource
Lisa Reihana, in Pursuit of Venus [infected]
From the Past, for Tomorrow teaching resource: reimagining local history through art
From the Past, for Tomorrow uses contemporary art as a launchpad for examining identity and representation, considering the impact of colonisation, and exploring the power of storytelling in art.
Venice Biennale and Lisa Reihana learning resource
Primary
Download our five learning pathways to help you and your students learn about New Zealand's history at the Venice Biennale and the works of Lisa Reihana – our 2017 exhibitor.
Education resource
Watch: Interviews with Lisa Reihana
Lisa speaks about the meanings behind 'Lisa Reihana: Emissaries', the logistics of exhibiting, and making time-based digital art.
New Zealand at the Venice Biennale: Our most ambitious learning resource yet
Head of Learning Innovation Miri Young introduces a digital learning resource for teachers which bridges the gap between New Zealand and Venice, and brings the digital artwork 'Lisa Reihana: Emissaries' into classrooms.
Joseph Dufour’s wallpaper
Lisa Reihana developed in Pursuit of Venus [infected], the centrepiece of Lisa Reihana: Emissaries, her 2017 New Zealand Biennale exhibition, in response to Joseph Dufour’s wallpaper, which was created over 200 years ago.
More links about Aotearoa New Zealand artists at Venice
Mataaho Collective win the Golden Lion
Mataaho Collective won a Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale 2024, for their large-scale installation Takapau. Curator of Contemporary Art Hanahiva Rose reflects on this remarkable achievement.
Watch videos about the artists from NZ At Venice
Watch videos about New Zealand’s presence at the giant visual arts exhibition, the Venice Biennale, as supported by Creative New Zealand.
This link will take you to the NZ At Venice YouTube channel.
Watch: Bill Culbert installing ‘Daylight flotsam Venice’ (2013) and ‘Drop’ (2013)
Artist Bill Culbert created 'Daylight flotsam Venice' (2013) and 'Drop' (2013) as part of his exhibition at the Venice Biennale, where he represented New Zealand in 2013. Here, he installs the work for their first exhibition in New Zealand at Te Papa.
Watch: Judy Millar’s Giraffe-Bottle-Gun
In 2009 New Zealand was represented by artists Judy Millar and Francis Upritchard at the Venice Biennale. Here, Judy Millar discusses her project Giraffe-Bottle-Gun made for exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2009.
This link will take you to the Te Papa YouTube channel.
The art life in Venice
Charlotte Huddleston reports on the 53rd International Art Exhibition – Venice Biennale, and the installations of Judy Millar’s Giraffe-Bottle-Gun and Francis Upritchard’s Save Yourself projects.