Australia's Arts Community Condemns Creative Australia's Decision to Drop Venice Biennale Artist

Creative Australia's abrupt removal of Khaled Sabsabi as Australia's 2026 Venice Biennale representative has sparked resignations, criticism, and concerns over artistic freedom.

Creative Australia withdrew artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino's selection for the 2026 Venice Biennale following political and media criticism of Sabsabi's past works.
The controversy centered on Sabsabi's 2007 video work 'You,' depicting a former Hezbollah leader, and a 2006 piece referencing 9/11, both of which were criticized in Australian parliament and media.
Artists, curators, and institutions have called the decision a failure of governance, with over 3,000 signing a petition demanding Sabsabi's reinstatement and several resignations from Creative Australia's leadership.
The Museum of Contemporary Art and other prominent figures have defended Sabsabi, emphasizing the importance of artistic independence and contextual understanding of his work.
Concerns have grown about Australia's international reputation in the arts, with fears the 2026 pavilion may remain empty due to the fallout and artists distancing themselves from the process.