The untimely passing of Koyo Kouoh, artistic director of the 2026 Venice Biennale, has left a void in the art world. Artist Derrick Adams is filling it with a monumental portrait of Kouoh on the Palazzetto dello sport Giobatta Gianquinto.
Adams’s style is on full display; Kouoh’s features are abstracted into geometric shapes, with “JOY” radiating golden rays above her head. His hope? That this installation serves as a reminder for ongoing battles of justice and that we acknowledge those who fight them.
The idea came from Francesco Bonami, who first met Kouoh in 2003 but kept in touch until tragedy struck. Together they developed an improvised tribute, with Adams revisiting Kouoh’s vision of joy within Black art. The work is meant to be accessible – a public mural on the Biennale’s main street.
Kouoh’s exhibition will open alongside this installation, her final show set to inspire even as she is no longer here. Bonami sees her spirit surviving and Adams hopes the artwork does the same, reminding us of those who see beyond obstacles and help those without a voice.
