The selection process for the American pavilion at the Venice Biennale is rarely without friction, but the lead-up to the 61st edition has taken on a particularly somber tone. Barbara Chase-Riboud, the acclaimed American-French sculptor and author, recently confirmed her decision to decline the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2026 event. Her refusal, along with that of renowned photographer William Eggleston, has left the newly formed American Arts Conservancy (AAC) to move forward with Mexico-based sculptor Alma Allen.
In a statement to the *Financial Times*, Chase-Riboud characterized the decision as a matter of timing rather than a lack of appreciation for the platform. “Participating in the 61st Venice Biennale would have been splendid,” she noted, adding that for her, as a “world citizen,” this was simply “not the moment.” The phrasing is delicate but heavy with the implication that the current geopolitical and domestic climate has made the role of national representative a complicated proposition.
Chase-Riboud’s career has seen a recent surge in institutional recognition, including a massive multi-museum retrospective across Paris. Her work, which often explores the intersections of history, power, and the bronze form, occupies a space where the personal and the political are inseparable. While she did not explicitly address reports that the refusal was linked to the incoming U.S. administration, the vacancy at the pavilion underscores a growing hesitation among cultural figures to serve as avatars for the state during periods of deep polarization.
With reporting from Hyperallergic.
Source · Hyperallergic