Lubaina Himid Picked
British artist Lubaina Himid has been confirmed for the British Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale and also appointed for Cork Street Galleries’ 2026/27 Banners Commission — a double cultural spotlight ahead of May. (fadmagazine.com) (artnews.com)
The British Pavilion commission has an official title: Predicting History: Testing Translation, the British Council’s major solo presentation by Himid for the 61st Venice Biennale. (press.frieze.com) Himid’s Cork Street Galleries Banners Commission is titled Reading the Label and will be unveiled in June 2026 to coincide with London Gallery Weekend (5–7 June 2026); the banner installation will remain on view through May 2027. (fadmagazine.com) Cork Street Galleries — an initiative of The Pollen Estate — is named as a Supporting Partner of the British Council for the pavilion, marking the first time an arts-destination partner has formally supported the UK Pavilion. (fadmagazine.com) Frieze is announced as a supporter of Himid’s British Pavilion commission, continuing its recent role backing UK pavilion projects after supporting John Akomfrah’s 2024 commission. (frieze.com) La Biennale di Venezia’s 61st International Art Exhibition runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026, and the British Pavilion sits in the Giardini where Himid’s new work will be installed. (artreview.com) Himid, born in Zanzibar in 1954 and based in Preston, was the 2017 Turner Prize winner and is known for paintings, installations and curatorial projects that interrogate colonial history, race and gender — the themes she will develop in both the Venice commission and the Cork Street banners. (fadmagazine.com)
