Published by LLB Auction — Luxembourg's Contemporary Art Auction House | Monday 20 April 2026

In just nineteen days, the most prestigious artistic event in the world will unfold its doors, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in its splendor.

The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia — In Minor Keys — will commence from 9 May to 22 November 2026, gracing venues such as the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various locations throughout Venice. The preview days are set for 6, 7, and 8 May, showcasing one hundred and ten artists, collaborative duos, and collectives from around the globe, representing one hundred national pavilions and thirty-one collateral events.

Central to this momentous occasion is a curatorial vision developed by a remarkable woman who, tragically, did not live to witness her work come to fruition.

Koyo Kouoh, a Cameroonian curator and director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town—recognized as one of the pivotal figures in contemporary art both in Africa and beyond—was appointed the artistic director for the 61st Venice Biennale in December 2024. From October 2024 through early May 2025, she poured her heart and soul into this project before her untimely passing on 10 May 2025. This date fell just a day after what would have marked the opening of her exhibition a year prior.

With the full support of Kouoh’s family, La Biennale di Venezia has committed to realizing her vision exactly as she intended. The dedicated team she assembled, which spans cities including London, Dakar, Berlin, Beirut, Marseille, Cape Town, and New York, will see In Minor Keys open on 9 May 2026 according to her wishes.

This profound context significantly shapes the meaning of the exhibition and the invitation it extends to its audience.

Understanding the Theme of 'In Minor Keys'

In the curatorial text sent by Koyo Kouoh to the President of the Biennale on 8 April 2025—just one month before her death—she eloquently stated:

"Take a deep breath. Exhale. Relax your shoulders. Close your eyes."

The essence of her proposal is an invitation to shift gears: to attune oneself to the subtleties represented by the minor key. Despite often being overlooked amidst the tumultuous upheaval of contemporary life, according to Kouoh, the symphonic narrative of existence continues.

The title of the exhibition draws inspiration from music theory, where the minor key is frequently associated with introspection, melancholy, and deep emotional resonance. It encapsulates themes emerging when the bright resolution of the major key remains elusive, allowing tension to linger. Yet, it is crucial to recognize that the minor key is not inferior; it holds a realm of rich emotional depth, as demonstrated in the late sonatas of Schubert, the Chaconne by Bach, and the iconic album Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. The most profound compositions often unfold in the minor.

Kouoh advocated for this paradigm to be mirrored in art and the world at large. In a moment characterized by "anxious cacophony"—comprising trade conflicts, geopolitical unrest, ecological anxieties, and the decay of cultural unity—her plea was for stillness. She encouraged audiences to listen for the quieter, persistent signals of creativity that communicate hope and potential transformation.

The Biennale's program features performances that emphasize the body as a vessel of knowledge and memory. A procession of poets will take place in the Giardini della Biennale, reflecting Kouoh's inspiration gleaned from her Poetry Caravan—a pilgrimage undertaken in 1999 with nine African poets from Dakar to Timbuktu. The 110 distinguished artists selected were chosen with a keen ear for the resonances, affinities, and intersections among their practices, transcending geographical divides.

This biennale does not seek to provoke shock; its intention lies in fostering resonance.

The Significance of This Theme in Today's Landscape

The art world has been navigating a significant period of reflection and recalibration over the last three years.

The speculative excitement that marked 2020 to 2022—when young, untested artists commanded staggering prices at auctions while every gallery expanded—has since subsided. The market has contracted, adopting a more serious and selective stance. The collectors who persist are those who embody the essence of commitment, acquiring pieces that foster enduring appreciation rather than fleeting exhilaration.

The Art Basel and UBS report released earlier this year validated sentiments echoing within the market: the ultra-contemporary segment has receded for the fourth year in a row. Financial resources are increasingly directed toward established names within the art world. The Impressionist and Modern segments now reign as the most profitable within the industry, with discerning collectors in search of depth rather than mere novelty.

In Minor Keys represents an institutional articulation of this pivotal shift within the art world. This biennale is not one that chases after spectacle; rather, it engages in the exploration of sustained artistic practices, inviting spectators to slow their pace, listen intently, and delve into works that do not provide immediate closure.

The convergence between the curatorial vision of this eminent biennale and the evolving trajectory of the art market is no mere coincidence; both elements respond to the same prevailing cultural moment—the exhaustion of a world filled with noise and the collective yearning for something substantial.

Implications of Venice 2026 for the Artists Under Market Scrutiny

The Venice Biennale does not directly dictate auction outcomes. Its role diverges from being a marketplace; instead, it identifies and legitimizes artistic pursuits deserving of sustained attention. An artist featured in the main exhibition—or whose national pavilion garners substantial critical acclaim—emerges with a market trajectory significantly influenced for years to come.

The 110 artists invited to participate in In Minor Keys were curated by Kouoh with a focus on resonances, affinities, and potential convergences across diverse practices. The selection spans a multitude of geographies and generations, highlighting African, diasporic, and non-Western artistic expressions that have historically been underrepresented within the Biennale’s narrative.

This bears direct relevance to the artists featured within LLB Auction's curated selection.

Ansou Niabaly embodies the tradition that Kouoh dedicated her career to championing: African contemporary art that is emotionally expressive, interconnected with the body, memory, and the enduring legacy of cultural heritage amidst displacement. The direction signified by In Minor Keys—an institutional endorsement of African and diasporic practices at the highest echelon—is emblematic of the space Niabaly occupies within the art landscape.

Antonia Beauvoir's figurative creations—rooted in themes of concealment, the notion of the partially revealed figure, and the intricate emotional nuances of visibility—directly resonate with the Biennale's declared focus on "the body as a site of knowledge and memory." The artwork celebrated by In Minor Keys aims to embrace tension rather than immediate resolution, much like Beauvoir's veiled figures.

Yun Sé's understated and continuous artistic practice—bridging Eastern and Western painterly traditions—is precisely the type of work that the biennale heralds. Kouoh's invitation to "tune in to the frequencies of the minor keys" translates as a call to appreciate the subtle layers present in artworks akin to those created by Yun Sé.

Léa Véris and Eva Santer exemplify the material intelligence and psychological nuance that In Minor Keys prioritizes over fleeting spectacle. Their creations demand an experiential approach—inviting viewers to engage in a manner that reveals deeper comprehension upon multiple encounters.

Richard Prince (1994) thoughtfully navigates the image economy within contemporary culture—examining what endures amid infinite reproducibility and what remains visible when everything faces circulation and appropriation. The biennale's emphasis on what Kouoh referred to as "the persistent signals of earth and life" finds its reflection in Prince's exploration of the lingering essence of imagery following its widespread dissemination.

Venice as a Guide for Collectors

For serious collectors, Venice transcends being merely an exhibition; it serves as a compass for the future of art.

The trajectory chosen by the Biennale—reflected in its curatorial selections and the artistic voices it uplifts—indicates the direction in which the serious art world is advancing. Collectors who are attuned to the expressions highlighted by Venice, and who have begun their acquisitions along these lines, often emerge as architects of the most consequential collections.

In Minor Keys guides us towards a preference for depth over spectacle, for sustained practices over trend-led creations, for non-Western, African, and diasporic art, as well as for themes connected to memory, the body, and collective resilience. It champions art that acknowledges the notion that the most significant messages are often conveyed in the quietest of tones.

These are not mere abstract ideas; they describe the artistic practices that are drawing the attention and investment of the most committed collectors today—practices that will witness validation at the highest institutional level once Venice opens its doors in just nineteen days.

Experience Venice: A Call to Action

If you find yourself able to be in Venice from 6 to 22 November 2026, seize the opportunity. The preview dates—6, 7, and 8 May—are exclusive to press and professionals, with public access commencing on 9 May. The Giardini and the Arsenale serve as the principal venues, complemented by exhibitions distributed across the city.

The 110 artists selected exemplify the most rigorous curatorial selection in contemporary art this year. Immersing yourself in In Minor Keys will provide richer insights into the course of contemporary art than any market analysis or fair overview.

For those unable to attend Venice, or for those seeking to start their journey in alignment with current artistic trajectories before the validation of the Biennale elevates demand and prices, LLB Auction provides access to works already resonating with the evolving art landscape.

Ansou Niabaly, Antonia Beauvoir, Yun Sé, Léa Véris, Eva Santer, Richard Prince (1994) are all available for acquisition now, meticulously documented from their initial transactions, at a 20% buyer's premium—the most competitive rate in the professional market. Shipping via DHL within Europe ranges from €150 to €450, inclusive of comprehensive insurance.

The symphony of creativity continues, echoing in minor keys. Those collectors who are attuned will be the first to hear its resonances.

LLB Auction is a Luxembourg-based online auction house specializing in contemporary art priced between €5,000 and €50,000. The artists of the Shadow Collective—Richard Prince (1994), Antonia Beauvoir, Ansou Niabaly, Yun Sé, Léa Véris, and Eva Santer—are exclusively represented by Lynart Gallery and available through LLB Auction. Explore current lots at llb-auction.com.