The British Council announce that artist Lubaina Himid will represent the UK at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, presenting a major solo exhibition of new work in the British Pavilion.
Lubaina Himid CBE RA (b. 1954, Zanzibar) is a world-renowned British artist, known for a pioneering practice which addresses themes of race, history, feminism, cultural memory and identity. She frequently employs storytelling and historical research to challenge dominant Eurocentric narratives and highlight the overlooked contributions of Black figures in Western history. One of the pioneers of the Black British Art Movement, Himid curated several significant exhibitions in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Five Black Women (1983) at the Africa Centre, London and The Thin Black Line (1985) at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, both of which showcased the work of Black female artists in response to their exclusion from mainstream galleries. In 2025 Himid will reimagine this iconic exhibition at the ICA to expand contemporary interpretations and conversations around art making.
Main image credit: Lubaina Himid – Photographer credit_ Adama Jalloh
Himid lives and works in Preston, UK and is Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Art at the University of Central Lancashire. One of the pioneers of the Black British Art Movement, Himid curated several significant exhibitions in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Five Black Women (1983) at the Africa Centre, London and The Thin Black Line (1985) at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, both of which showcased the work of Black female artists in response to their exclusion from mainstream galleries. In 2017, Himid was awarded the Turner Prize and in 2018 she received the honorary title of CBE for her contributions to the arts.
On accepting the British Council commission, Himid said: “I laughed out loud with both disbelief and pleasure when I found out about this wonderful invitation to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2026. It is such a great honour and at the same time a brilliant and exciting opportunity to make something particularly special, which resonates with multiple audiences, communicates with complex histories and looks to a more collaborative future.”
Emma Dexter, Director Visual Arts and the British Council Collection and Commissioner of the British Pavilion said: “Himid pushes the boundaries of painting practice through sound and sculptural installation, incorporating new materials, textures, narratives and formats in her work. Combining a radical optimism with social critique, she will transform the Pavilion with her vibrant, articulate and spatially dynamic artworks. Himid’s exhibitions take the visitor on an exploratory journey, which is why it’s so exciting to imagine how she will use the enfilade of six spaces in the British Pavilion. We are truly delighted to be working with Lubaina Himid on the British Council commission for 2026.”
Cortina Butler, Interim Director of Arts at the British Council said: “Lubaina Himid’s work as an artist and a curator invites reassessment of history, identity and representation and visitors to her exhibition will undoubtedly be challenged and delighted in equal measure. For nearly 90 years the British Council has been the custodian of the British Pavilion in Venice, commissioning art and architecture exhibitions on behalf of the United Kingdom that highlight the diverse creativity of our country. The featured artists have included Lucian Freud, Bridget Riley, Anish Kapoor, Steve McQueen and Phyllida Barlow. Lubaina Himid will be a more than worthy successor.”
Credit British Council.
