The grant will be allocated to the artwork production and presentation of three artists as part of the Nordic Pavilion at the 2026 Biennale in Venice.
Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Pirje Mykkänen
The Nordic Pavilion will feature a joint exhibition of works by three Nordic artists. Completed in 1962, the Nordic Pavilion was designed by Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn and has served as a collaborative space for Finland, Sweden and Norway for over 60 years. Finland is the producing country responsible for the exhibition planning, production and maintenance of the pavilion for 2026.
The exhibition is curated by Anna Mustonen, Chief Curator at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. In addition to Kiasma, Moderna Museet (Sweden) and OCA – Office for Contemporary Art Norway (Norway) are participating in the realisation of the pavilion, contributing a total of EUR 200,000 to the exhibition production.
The artists selected for the pavilion are Benjamin Orlow (Finland), Klara Kristalova (Sweden), and Tori Wrånes (Norway). The artists are working on a joint series of artworks that combines Nordic mythologies with current global themes, such as the significance of cultural memory and issues of equality. The exhibition offers a diverse overview of Nordic contemporary art.
“The Nordic Pavilion brings together three artists from different backgrounds and artistic fields. The exhibition invites visitors on a journey where imagination and reality meet. At the same time, it connects Nordic cultural heritage to a broader global context. Sverre Fehn’s iconic architecture provides a framework for the exhibition that fosters discussion between art, culture, and the built environment,” Mustonen describes.
“We are pleased to be able to support Nordic artistic cooperation, which highlights current themes and supports international visibility for artists. The strengthening of Nordic networks is particularly important right now, and for this purpose, the Venice Biennale offers a unique forum,” says Päivi Karttunen, Member of the Board of Saastamoinen Foundation.
The Venice Biennale, The International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, is a significant international contemporary art exhibition. The event is held every two years in Venice, Italy. The art biennale, which will be held for the 61st time next year, will be open to the public from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
