Skip to content

Pussy Riot and FEMEN storm Russia’s pavilion at Venice Biennale

artMay 6, 2026747

Pussy Riot and Ukraine's FEMEN swarmed the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, releasing pink, blue and yellow smoke and forcing the pavilion to briefly close. Protesters shouted "Curated by Putin, dead bodies included" and called the pavilion a site of violence, directly contesting Russia's inclusion in the exhibition. The action underscores broader disputes over whether international art events should host representatives of states involved in active conflicts, turning the Biennale into a contested political as well as cultural space.

2 sources