We are delighted to announce that Khaled Sabsabi has been selected to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Building from his experiences after migrating from Lebanon in 1976 to escape civil war, Sabsabi’s work engages with the complex realities of contemporary life. Juxtaposing themes of the political and the divine, contested histories and the eternal, his art is guided by his practice as a tasawwuf (Sufi) and his experience as a Muslim in Australia in the 21st Century. He has been represented by Milani Gallery for over a decade. His first exhibition with the gallery was Corner in 2012.
For his project in Venice, Sabsabi will make an entirely new body of work. The project will be curated by Michael Dagostino, Director of the Chau Chuk Museum at Sydney University. Their collaboration will bring an exhibition to the Australia Pavilion that hopes to build empathy and connection between all people
Since emerging from the hip hop scene in the late 80s and after engaging in community based practice for over 35 years, Sabsabi has developed a remarkable international exhibiting career, having been invited to exhibit in the Sharjah Biennale (2013), the Shanghai Biennale (2012), the Marrakesh Biennale (2014), the Kochi Muzuris Biennale (2016), the Sydney Biennale (2012 and 2018) the Yinchuan Biennale (2016) as well as many other international exhibitions and projects. Representing Australia in Venice will build on this significant international presence. In recent years he has also held major solo exhibitions at PICA (2018), AGNSW (2020) and Campbelltown Arts Centre (2022). In 2024 he was the recipient of a prestigious Mordant Family Creative Australia Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy Rome.
We acknowledge Creative Australia and warmly congratulate Khaled on this significant appointment, and look forward to supporting him through the process.
For more information about his practice, please contact the gallery here.
