For the first time in history, the United States of America will be represented by a black woman artist at the Venice Biennale: Simone Leigh (1967, Chicago, IL).

The news of Simone Leigh’s participation at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale was announced by the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) of Boston and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Simone Leigh’s works address issues related to history, race, gender, labor and monuments, creating powerful narratives centered around black women. Simone Leigh’s work crosses time, space, geography and cultures; it becomes a universal language with which to explore the experiences of the “black femmes” . To create her works the artist uses materials and forms associated with African art and the traditions of the African diaspora.



Simone Leigh, 2021, Photo credit: Shaniqwa Jarvis, Courtesy the artist.


The United States Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale was commissioned by Jill Mdvedow, the Ellen Matilda Poss Director, and Eva Respini, ICA Barbara Lee Chief-Curator. The Boston Museum has scheduled for 2023 the first Leigh's exhibition within their spaces, which will include the works of the next Venice Biennale. During Simone's exhibition at ICA an important monograph of the artist's work will also be presented.

According to the Director Jill Medvedow "[...] Simone Leigh has created an indelible body of work that centers the experiences and histories of Black women and at such a crucial moment in history, I can think of no better artist to represent the United States."


Simone Leigh, 2021, Photo credit: Shaniqwa Jarvis, Courtesy the artist.

"For the U.S. Pavilion, Leigh will create a series of new sculptures and installations that address what the artist call an "incomplete archive" of Black feminist thought, with works inspired by leading Black intellectuals. Her work insists on the centrality of Black female forms within the cultural sphere, and serves as a beacon in our moment," said the Chief-Curator at the ICA Boston, Eva Respini.

The ICA of Boston has also launched a new website dedicate to Simone Leigh and her participation to the Venice Biennale 2022. By visiting the website simoneleighvenice2022.org you can access more information about the participation of the artist to the United States Pavilion in Venice and about the institutions that currently gravitate around Simone Leigh.

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