Nordic Myths and Modern Minds Collide in Venice’s Artful Pavilion

A trio of boundary-pushing artists—Klara Kristalova, Benjamin Orlow, and Tori Wrånes—will bring the Nordic spirit to life at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Their selection, steered by Helsinki’s Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, continues a decades-long tradition of Finland, Sweden, and Norway sharing the iconic Nordic pavilion, a space designed for creative collaboration since 1962. This year, the artists will weave together threads of Nordic folklore and urgent global themes, from identity to gender equality. Kristalova’s whimsical ceramics, Orlow’s explorations of humanity’s bond with nature, and Wrånes’s immersive, music-infused sculptures promise a multi-sensory journey that stretches from ancient myth to contemporary debate. The Nordic pavilion’s rotating curatorship and history of spotlighting Indigenous Sámi voices reveal a region where art is both a mirror and a bridge—reflecting shared roots while connecting to the world beyond. In Venice, tradition meets transformation on a global stage. #VeniceBiennale #NordicArt #ContemporarySculpture #Culture