What exactly is a biennale, and why do they matter in the art world? In this solo episode, I’m breaking down one of the art world’s most iconic and contested formats, from its origins at the very first Venice Biennale in 1895 to the sprawling, politically charged mega-exhibitions we know today.

In the episode, we move through the history of how biennales evolved from nationalist showcases into curator-led events grappling with postcolonial discourse, identity politics, and climate change. I then touch on some of the most influential editions across Venice, São Paulo, Kassel, and beyond. We get into the controversies, including the the Dana Schutz and Open Casket debate at the 2017 Whitney Biennial, the board resignation that followed artist protests in 2019, and the antisemitism scandal that overshadowed Documenta 15 in 2022.

Sources:

• Paintings from the Venice Biennale – Listory

• In 1895, the 1st Venice Biennale faces its first censorship scandal – Arte Brasileiros

• The Dana Schutz Emmett Till painting controversy at the Whitney Biennial – The Guardian

• Warren Kanders resigns from Whitney Museum board – The New York Times

• Statement by Taring Padi on dismantling People's Justice – Documenta Fifteen

  Who Killed the Independent Curator? – Frieze

  
  

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  If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

  
  

  Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

  
  

  ABOUT THE HOST:

  I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

  
  

  SOCIALS:

  Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker

  
  

  and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

  
  

  This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/

  
  

  COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

  
  

  Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein

Boats passing, waves lapping along the sides of buildings in the city of canals… and I am sitting outside the Icelandic Pavilion, peeking into the Pocket Universe created by artist Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir.

For this Biennale Exclusive episode, I speak to Ásta about her work and the exhibition she created for this year’s Venice Biennale In Minor Keys, but I also got to speak to Cecilie Ragnheiðardóttir Gaihede, the Director of the Icelandic Art Centre, and the co-curator of Pocket Unviverse, Margrét Áskelsdóttir.

I ask them about their roles, what the experience has been like to put together a national pavilion for an international stage, why it’s important to participate in the Venice Biennale as a nation, and so much more.

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If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

SOCIALS:

• Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker
• and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

ALL ABOUT ART TURNED 5 in April !!! On April 2nd, 2021, deep in Covid lockdowns, I decided to launch the pod. Now, in 2026, here we are - with a global audience spanning over 115 countries, thousands of downloads and monthly listeners, collaborations with institutions and amazing cultural professionals, and… A BOOK DEAL.

I started this podcast because I had no idea what working in the art world actually looked like. My university wasn’t telling me, career services wasn’t telling me, books weren’t telling me, so I started asking people directly and wanted to record it all.

To commemorate 5 years of All About Art AND the launch of my book Working in Art: How to build a career in the art world all within the span of a week, in this special episode, I share five lessons drawn from over 130 conversations with museum directors, curators, gallerists, art handlers, auction house specialists, and more.

There’s also a lot I wish someone had just told me a decade ago when I was starting out in the arts, which is, honestly, the reason the book exists. Working in Art is the first book written specifically for people who want to work in the art world but aren’t making art themselves. No equivalent existed when I was starting out, and it should have…. so now, it does 😉

- - - - -

If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

SOCIALS:

Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker

and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein