Fostering Artistic Visions: Teiger Foundation's Enduring Legacy at the Venice Biennale
A Generous Commitment to the 2026 Venice Biennale
The New York-based Teiger Foundation recently unveiled its considerable financial contribution to the 2026 Venice Biennale, pledging a total of $750,000. This significant sum is earmarked to facilitate the grand international art exhibition, which is scheduled to commence in May.
Strategic Allocation of Funds for Art and Artists
The foundation's donation is structured into two distinct components. A major portion, $500,000, will be directly allocated to the Biennale organizers to cover the extensive production costs associated with the exhibition. The remaining $250,000 is designated to empower artists, providing them with essential resources to create new works and ensure their participation in Venice. This latter fund is being managed through the American Friends of Zeitz MOCAA, an institution where the Biennale's former curator, Koyo Kouoh, served as both executive director and chief curator.
Upholding Koyo Kouoh's Curatorial Vision
Despite the untimely passing of Koyo Kouoh in May 2025, just before the official announcement of her exhibition's theme, her artistic vision lives on. The 2026 Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys," is being brought to life by a dedicated curatorial team. This team includes advisors Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Rasha Salti, researcher Rory Tsapayi, and Siddhartha Mitter, who is overseeing the exhibition's textual content.
A Testament to Solidarity and Global Art Networks
Larissa Harris, the executive director of the Teiger Foundation, highlighted the essence of Kouoh's curatorial approach. She noted that "In Minor Keys" champions artists who forge unique worlds rooted in concepts of solidarity, poetic expression, and a sense of place. Kouoh's practice consistently promoted global and local artistic connections, and the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia aims to extend this commitment onto the international stage. The Teiger Foundation expresses its pride in supporting the team assembled by Kouoh as they channel their creative energy into realizing her profound vision alongside the professionals of La Biennale di Venezia.
Honoring a Philosophy of Collaboration and Human Connection
The Biennale's curatorial team echoed Kouoh's guiding principle: "People are more important than things." This philosophy underscored her belief in the leading role of artists and the paramount importance of collaboration over fleeting success. The support from the Teiger Foundation is a direct affirmation of this ethos, which was central to Kouoh's acclaimed career as an internationally respected curator.
Teiger Foundation's Consistent Support for the Biennale
The Teiger Foundation boasts a history of significant contributions to the Venice Biennale, having previously supported the 2013, 2022, and 2024 editions, curated by Massimiliano Gioni, Cecilia Alemani, and Adriano Pedrosa, respectively. Established in 2008 by the late collector and patron David Teiger, the foundation's endowment was strengthened by the sale of his collection after his passing in 2014. Beyond its Biennale involvement, the Teiger Foundation also manages various grant programs, including its Hosting program, which supports touring exhibitions, and biennial funds dedicated to curatorial research.
Gratitude for Enduring Patronage
Pietrangelo Buttafoco, president of the Biennale, expressed profound gratitude for the Teiger Foundation's unwavering support. He emphasized that since 2013, the foundation's contributions have been instrumental in expanding the artistic initiatives led by the Visual Arts Department's Artistic Directors. Buttafoco underscored the particular importance of the support for Koyo Kouoh's project, recognizing its potential to amplify her voice and vision for both current and future generations of artists and art enthusiasts.