The Whitney Museum of American Art has announced the 56 artists, duos, and collectives for its 82nd Biennial, opening March 8, 2026, in New York. Curators Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer selected participants after over 300 studio visits, focusing on “strangeness” amid global instability. Free admission for those 25 and under underscores accessibility in this relational showcase.
Themes of Tension and Coexistence
The exhibition delves into interspecies kinships, geopolitical bonds, and shared mythologies, reflecting a “structurally unstable and emotionally charged” world. It features voices from U.S.-impacted regions like Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Vietnam, plus New York talents. Posthumous inclusions honor José Maceda (d. 2004) and Kimowan Metchewais (d. 2011), blending millennial, queer perspectives with humor and critique.
Standout Participants
Key figures include:
- Basel Abbas & Ruanne Abou-Rahme (Palestine/Brooklyn), probing contested relations via multimedia.
- Julio Torres with Martine Gutierrez, debuting a performance fusing comedy and visuals.
- Samia Halaby (Palestine/NY), whose abstract digital works target global capitalism.
- Precious Okoyomon (UK/NY), a multidisciplinary poet navigating identity.
- Kamrooz Aram (Iran/US), recontextualizing cultural heritage through abstraction.
Others like Andrea Fraser, Mao Ishikawa, Nour Mobarak, and CFGNY round out a roster from 25 U.S. states and beyond, prioritizing emerging and underrecognized creators.
This Biennial promises bold dialogues on coexistence, inviting visitors to unwind familiar narratives through diverse lenses. For the full list, visit whitney.org.
Cover image: Ignacio Gatica, still from Sanhattan, 2025. Courtesy of the artist.
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