In a milestone for Barbados, visual artist Annalee Davis has been selected for the main exhibition of the 61st Venice Biennale, one of the world’s most influential contemporary art platforms.
Titled In Minor Keys and curated by Koyo Kouoh, the 2026 edition runs from May 9 to November 22, bringing together artists from around the world to explore more introspective, human-centered approaches to contemporary art. Often described as the “Olympics of the art world,” the Venice Biennale remains a key reference point for global artistic practice and institutional visibility.
For Davis, whose multidisciplinary practice is shaped by the ecological, cultural, and historical landscapes of Barbados, the selection marks a significant moment for both her career and Caribbean contemporary art more broadly.
Throughout her practice, Davis engages land, memory, ecology, and ancestral knowledge as interconnected systems. Through long-term projects such as Bush Tea, she examines the legacies of plantation economies while foregrounding the resilience of Caribbean knowledge systems and ways of knowing. Her work consistently situates Caribbean narratives within wider global conversations on climate, history, identity, and belonging.
Beyond her studio practice, Davis is the founder of Fresh Milk, the Barbados-based artist-led platform that has become one of the Caribbean’s most influential cultural institutions. For over a decade, it has supported artists through residencies, research initiatives, exhibitions, and public programming, fostering regional exchange and expanding access to sustainable creative practice.
Davis’ participation also sits within a broader ecosystem of cultural investment in the Caribbean. Long-term support from philanthropic partners, including the Clara Lionel Foundation and the Mellon Foundation, has helped expand access to artistic opportunities and strengthen regional infrastructure, enabling platforms such as Fresh Milk to deepen their work across research, residencies, and public programming.
Initiatives such as The Ripple Effect, a Fresh Milk-curated exhibition in Bridgetown supported through this partnership, show Caribbean artists engaging urgent global issues, including climate, health, and cultural identity, while advancing cultural exchange and regional development.
“I’m deeply honored to be part of the 61st Venice Biennale,” said Davis. “It’s a moment that feels both personal and collective. This opportunity reflects years of work grounded in Barbados, and I carry that sense of place with me. I’m incredibly grateful to the Clara Lionel Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the many organizations across the region who have invested in artists like myself, helping to build pathways for Caribbean voices to be seen, heard, and valued globally.”
For Jessie Schutt-Aine, Executive Director of the Clara Lionel Foundation, Davis’ inclusion reflects both the depth of artistic talent in the Caribbean and the importance of sustained cultural investment.
“At the Clara Lionel Foundation, we believe those closest to the culture are best positioned to shape it, and our partnership with the Mellon Foundation and organizations like Fresh Milk reflects a shared commitment to investing in Caribbean creative ecosystems. We’re proud to help create pathways for artists to thrive locally while also reaching audiences globally.”
Davis’ selection underscores the growing visibility of Caribbean artists within major international institutions and highlights how artistic practice in the region is sustained through networks of collaboration, infrastructure, and long-term investment.
For Barbados, the moment marks a significant cultural milestone. For the Caribbean, it reflects the region’s growing presence in global contemporary art, grounded in place, history, and community while increasingly shaping international discourse.
