The new year has come, and it will be one rich in biennials once again. 2024 will see some of the most important art events globally, most of which will take place around Europe, making it the perfect year for a trip to this side of the pond. Whether you want to start planning your summer vacations or a weekend break, these biennials are the perfect excuse to jump on a flight and start exploring.
Art biennials serve as global platforms for contemporary artists to showcase their innovative creations, providing a snapshot of the current state of the art world. And art biennials in 2024 promise to be extraordinarily vibrant and diverse, offering a kaleidoscope of contemporary artistic expressions from around the world. From the historic canals of Venice to the vibrant cityscape of New York, these biennials promise to be a feast for the senses, offering a unique opportunity to witness the pulse of the global art scene in 2024.
And you, which biennial are you planning to visit this year?
Biennale di Venezia
Easily at the top of any list, the Biennale di Venezia, also known as the Venice Biennale, is one of the oldest and most prestigious art events globally, and one you really should not miss. Set in the enchanting city of Venice, Italy, this biennial extravaganza attracts art lovers, collectors, and curators from around the world. The 60th edition, Foreigners Everywhere, curated by Adriano Pedrosa, promises a diverse range of contemporary art forms, mediums, and themes, and will animate the city of Venice between April and November 2024. The Venice Biennale continues to be a trendsetter, pushing boundaries and fostering dialogue between different cultures and artistic expressions. With national pavilions, a main exhibition spread between the Arsenale and the Giardini spaces, as well as performances, collateral events, and a myriad of exhibitions around the city of Venice, the 2024 Biennale is a must-visit and can easily make for a week full of art and wonders. Stay tuned for the 2024 Artsy Travels guide to the Venice Biennale, with the best collateral exhibitions in the city!
60th Biennale d’Arte di Venezia
20 April — 24 November, 2024
All info: labiennale.org
Whitney Biennial
Let’s jump States-side to land in New York, for yet another major biennial you don’t want to miss in 2024. Hosted in the heart of the contemporary art scene, the Whitney Biennial in New York City is a must-visit for those seeking the pulse of American art. The biennial is hosted inside the Whitney Museum of American Art, showcasing the work of emerging and established artists in the stunning settings of this world-renowned museum in the heart of Chelsea. The 2024 edition, the eighty-first installment of the biennial, titled Even Better Than the Real Thing, will offer a comprehensive look at the current state of contemporary art, featuring a mix of mediums and perspectives. Seventy-one visionary artists and collectives will participate in the biennial, opening March 20, 2024, following in the footsteps of hundreds of Biennial artists before them to interpret our current landscape and tell stories, spark discussion, and comment on issues across a variety of media and disciplines.
Whitney Biennial
20 March — October, 2024
All info: whitney.org
Manifesta 15
Another great excuse to visit Europe and Barcelona, indeed one of its best and most fascinating cities, is Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial. In 2024 the biennial embarks on its 15th edition, spreading across the Catalan capital, a city that reflects the dynamic cultural and social fabric of Europe. Manifesta serves as a catalyst for dialogue and exchange, bringing together artists, curators, and the local community. Founded in the early 1990s, Manifesta rethinks the relationship between culture and civic society, investigating and instigating an eco-social transition through contemporary culture in response to, and in close dialogue with, the social sphere of the Host City and its communities. The choice of a new host city for each edition ensures a fresh perspective, making Manifesta a truly nomadic and inclusive cultural event. And with loads of contemporary art spaces and events around Barcelona, we are sure this year’s Manifesta will be one to remember.
Manifesta 15
08 September — 24 November, 2024
All info: manifesta15.org
Lyon Biennial
Remaining in the heart of Europe, let’s now move to a smaller Biennial, that still presents cutting-edge artists and an incredible program. Nestled in the historic city of Lyon, France, the Lyon Biennial is renowned for its focus on contemporary art and its engagement with the city’s architectural and urban environment. The 17th edition in 2024, on view from September 21st to January 5, 2025, will continue this tradition, presenting a curated selection of international artists and dealing with the theme of human relations —the contemporary issues that underlie them, their many facets, their scope, and their rituals—in order to explore and extend hospitality practices. This edition is rooted in the natural and human geography of its vast home region, as defined by the rivers that wash against Lyon’s embankments. Artists from multiple backgrounds, and at different points in their careers, are being invited to offer their interpretation and vision of relations—ways of being choral, singular, and plural all at once. In a present where respect for difference, contradictory ideas, and debate are at stake, dialogue has become a relational and existential issue. The Lyon Biennial and the city of Lyon, with its unique blend of art and urban exploration, make it a standout event in the global art calendar.
Lyon Biennial
21 September, 2024 — 05 January, 2025
All info: labiennaledelyon.com
Biennale Gherdëina
The very last biennial we wish to recommend for 2024 is something different, although equally as interesting and cutting-edge. Situated in the picturesque region of South Tyrol, Italy, the Biennale Gherdëina stands out as a celebration of contemporary art amidst stunning alpine landscapes and focuses on the intersection of art, nature, and local culture.
The 9th edition of Biennale Gherdëina, The Parliament of Marmots, curated by Lorenzo Giusti with Marta Papini, borrows its title from one of the most enchanting Ladin myths of the Dolomites, which tells the story of the Fanes: a meek and peaceful people whose kingdom extended beyond the seven mountains to the edge of the world. The secret of their prosperity lay in their alliance with the marmots that inhabited the plateau of the same name.
Through various formats – new productions, performances, solo and group exhibitions, collaborations with regional institutions, and workshops open to the public – the 2024 Biennale Gherdëina event will gather the contributions of artists from various parts of continental Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, bringing together a multicultural community in Val Gardena.
Biennale Gherdëina
31 May — 01 September, 2024
All info: biennalegherdeina.org
Cover image by Sébastien Artaud on Unsplash
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