Interview “I believe in the fact that the people hold the power,” the Lebanese-born representing artist of the Australian pavilion told Hyperallergic.

May 27, 2026 — 7 min read

Khaled Sabsabi at the Australia Pavilion of the 2026 Venice Biennale (photo Andrea Rossetti, courtesy the artist; all other photos Aruna D'Souza/ Hyperallergic )

VENICE — Last year, Lebanese-born, Sydney-based artist Khaled Sabsabi was chosen to represent his country at the 2026 Venice Biennale by Creative Australia, the country’s chief arts funding organization. Within a week, the government intervened to override that decision, based on claims that by including a blurred image of a former Hezbollah leader in a video from 2007, Sabsabi was a supporter of terrorism and an antisemite. In response, Koyo Kouoh, the curator of the biennale’s main exhibition, In Minor Keys , stepped in, inviting Sabsabi to the show.…