An artist and curator set to represent Australia at an international art exhibition have been dropped after past artworks depicting the former leader of Hezbollah were raised in Parliament.
Sydney-based artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were chosen by Creative Australia, a government-funded body, for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The body has since reversed its decision, saying that sending the duo posed “an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia’s artistic community.”
Biennale
The Venice Biennale is an international art exhibition held every other year. The next exhibition is scheduled for April to November 2026.
At the Biennale, many countries – including Australia – have pavilions showcasing the work of an artist or group of artists.
Earlier this month, artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were selected as Australia’s representatives “based on the advice of a panel of independent industry advisors”.
Previous art
Sabsabi is a multimedia artist with more than 35 years of experience.
In the Senate on Thursday, Liberal Senator Claire Chandler asked the Government why Sabsabi had been chosen to represent Australia.
Chandler said some of Sabsabi’s past works feature former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israeli forces last year.
Australia lists Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, as a terrorist organisation.
Another work flagged by Chandler was a video of images from the 9/11 attacks called ‘Thank you very much’.
Chandler called for the Government to reverse Creative Australia’s decision.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said she agreed with Chandler that “any glorification of... Nasrallah is inappropriate,” and said she would seek an explanation.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke spoke to Creative Australia on Thursday but said he did not order the decision’s reversal.
Dropped
Later that day, Australia's Venice Biennale artist was dropped by Creative Australia’s board following a “unanimous decision”.
One board member, academic and filmmaker Larissa Behrendt, did not attend the meeting.
It cited concerns that a “prolonged and divisive debate” over the decision could “undermine” its goal of uniting Australians through art.
The organisation said it will review the selection process for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Response
In a joint statement posted to Instagram, Sabsabi and Dagostino expressed their “extreme hurt and disappointment” in the decision.
“We intended to present a transformational work in Venice, an experience that would unite all audiences in an open and safe shared space... Art should not be censored as artists reflect the times they live in. We believe in the vision of artists for an inclusive future that can bring us together to communicate and progress our shared humanity.”
Backlash
Following the announcement, Creative Australia board member Lindy Lee stepped down.
“I could not live with the level of violation I felt against one of my core values — that the artist’s voice must never be silenced,” Lee said.
In an open letter to the Creative Australia board, other artists shortlisted for the Biennale called for the reinstatement of Sabsabi and Dagostino, saying the move is “antithetical to the goodwill and hard-fought artistic independence... at the core of arts in Australia”.
