Marina Abramović's 80th Birthday Exhibition Takes Center Stage in Venice
A monumental retrospective is set to open at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice this May, marking a historic milestone for the avant-garde performance artist Marina Abramović. The show, titled "Transforming Energy," promises to be a game-changer, as Abramović becomes the first woman to receive a major exhibition at this prestigious institution.
Scheduled to coincide with the 61st Venice Biennale, Abramović's magnum opus will see her iconic works, including "Imponderabilia" (1977), "Rhythm 0" (1974), and "Light/Dark" (1977), alongside Renaissance masterpieces that have shaped Venice's cultural identity. The exhibition will stage a dialogue between Abramović's pioneering performance practice and the artworks of Titian, featuring his unfinished "Pietà" in direct conversation with Abramović and her late husband Ulay's "Pietà."
This unprecedented pairing reframes Renaissance themes through a contemporary lens, highlighting the body as a site of both suffering and spiritual elevation. According to artistic director Shai Baitel, curator of the exhibition, "Transforming Energy" is an encounter between past and present, material and immaterial, that reveals how Abramović's exploration of endurance, presence, and transformation resonates powerfully within Venice's centuries-old visual language.
One of the most striking aspects of this show is its ambitious scope. For the first time in the institution's history, Abramović's work will be embedded deep within the city's artistic patrimony, with her exhibition unfolding across both the museum's permanent collection galleries and temporary spaces. This marked move cements Abramović's status as a trailblazer not only for performance art but also for the way artists engage with their surroundings.
With "Transforming Energy," Abramović takes center stage in Venice, solidifying her position as an icon of contemporary art. This monumental retrospective promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave audiences in awe, and we can't wait to witness it firsthand when it opens its doors on May 6, 2026.
A monumental retrospective is set to open at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice this May, marking a historic milestone for the avant-garde performance artist Marina Abramović. The show, titled "Transforming Energy," promises to be a game-changer, as Abramović becomes the first woman to receive a major exhibition at this prestigious institution.
Scheduled to coincide with the 61st Venice Biennale, Abramović's magnum opus will see her iconic works, including "Imponderabilia" (1977), "Rhythm 0" (1974), and "Light/Dark" (1977), alongside Renaissance masterpieces that have shaped Venice's cultural identity. The exhibition will stage a dialogue between Abramović's pioneering performance practice and the artworks of Titian, featuring his unfinished "Pietà" in direct conversation with Abramović and her late husband Ulay's "Pietà."
This unprecedented pairing reframes Renaissance themes through a contemporary lens, highlighting the body as a site of both suffering and spiritual elevation. According to artistic director Shai Baitel, curator of the exhibition, "Transforming Energy" is an encounter between past and present, material and immaterial, that reveals how Abramović's exploration of endurance, presence, and transformation resonates powerfully within Venice's centuries-old visual language.
One of the most striking aspects of this show is its ambitious scope. For the first time in the institution's history, Abramović's work will be embedded deep within the city's artistic patrimony, with her exhibition unfolding across both the museum's permanent collection galleries and temporary spaces. This marked move cements Abramović's status as a trailblazer not only for performance art but also for the way artists engage with their surroundings.
With "Transforming Energy," Abramović takes center stage in Venice, solidifying her position as an icon of contemporary art. This monumental retrospective promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave audiences in awe, and we can't wait to witness it firsthand when it opens its doors on May 6, 2026.
i need to see this show like ASAP! and why are they showing it in venice btw? isn't that where all the famous artists go to exhibit? 
what do you think about marina's work tho? is she still making new stuff or has she retired already?
it's so cool that she's getting a major retrospective at the galleria dell'academia - her work has always been so pushing the boundaries of what performance art can be. and pairing her with titian's unfinished pietà is pure genius 
i love how this show reframes renaissance themes through a contemporary lens... it sounds like a really powerful exploration of the body as a site of suffering and spiritual elevation 
, and I'm eager to see how they'll engage in dialogue. The fact that her work will be embedded within the city's artistic patrimony makes for an immersive experience, don't you think? It's a testament to Abramović's innovative spirit and her ability to push boundaries. I'm looking forward to witnessing this monumental retrospective when it opens its doors on May 6, 2026 
! She's been breaking rules and pushing limits for decades, and now she's getting the recognition she deserves at one of Venice's most iconic museums. It's wild to think that her work will be right next to some Renaissance masterpieces - it's like, this huge mashup of old and new 
- it sounds like an exhibition that's gonna make you think, move, and maybe even transform a little bit yourself 
It's like she's breaking all these records & showing us what she's made of at this point in her career. The way they're pairing her art with Titian's masterpieces is straight fire 
can't wait to see this exhibition for myself! 
and this exhibition is gonna be HUGE 
and i'm low-key hyped for the "pietà" conversation btw 
ulay would've been so proud 
can't wait to see this show go down on may 6th... just gotta get my tickets pronto 
can u imagine seeing "imponderabilia" next to a masterpiece from the rennaissance era? 
this is definitely going to break barriers for performance art & we need more of it!!!
! i think it's so cool that they're putting marina abramović's work alongside titian's masterpieces - it's like she's shaking up the whole art world 
. can't wait to see how it all comes together!
. Can't wait to see how Abramović's pioneering performance practice interacts with the city's cultural identity 
i'm def gonna try to catch this show when it opens 
has anyone else seen her work before? what's ur fave Abramović piece?