Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid will represent the United Kingdom at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, the British Council has announced. She will showcase a major solo exhibition of new work at the British Pavilion.
Born in Zanzibar in 1954 and now based in Preston, England, Himid has been a prominent figure in contemporary British art for decades. A key pioneer of the Black British Art Movement, she uses painting, installation, and curation to challenge Eurocentric perspectives and spotlight the overlooked contributions of Black individuals in Western history.
Himid first gained recognition in the 1980s through exhibitions such as Five Black Women at the Africa Centre and The Thin Black Line at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, both addressing the marginalisation of Black female artists. In 2017, she became the first Black woman to win the Turner Prize, and the following year, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the arts.
Emma Dexter, Director of Visual Arts and the British Council Collection, praised Himid’s innovative approach, stating: “Himid expands the possibilities of painting by incorporating sound and sculptural installations, experimenting with new materials, textures, and formats. Her work blends radical optimism with social critique, and we are thrilled to see how she will transform the British Pavilion’s six interconnected spaces.”
On being selected, Himid described the opportunity as both an honour and a chance to create meaningful engagement. “When I received the invitation, I laughed out loud in disbelief and delight,” she said. “This is an incredible opportunity to produce work that resonates with diverse audiences, engages with complex histories, and envisions a more collaborative future.”
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