Whitney Biennial 2026
The Whitney Biennial 2026 has no pre-set theme [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA73HXm_PHU], but curators drew inspiration from Lauren Berlant’s “inconvenience drive” and Donna Haraway’s “hot compost pile”.
Lauren Berlant’s concept of "inconvenience drive" refers to the way people persist in harmful relationships and social structures even when they know they are bad for them. The curators are using this idea to explore how artists engage with and critique these attachments. Donna Haraway's "hot compost pile" is a metaphor for messy, generative collaborations that create unexpected results. This concept highlights the Biennial's focus on diverse perspectives and unconventional art practices. The 2026 Biennial includes 71 artists and collectives, a mix of emerging and established figures working across various media. Their works address a range of contemporary issues, reflecting the curators' interest in art as a form of social and political engagement.
