For the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, Eglė Budvytytė will represent Lithuania, exhibiting a new multi-channel film and installation.
The project has been commissioned by the Lithuanian National Museum of Art. The Commissioner is Lolita Jablonskienė, Director of the National Gallery of Art, a subdivision of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art. It is being curated by Louise O’Kelly, independent curator and founding Director of Block Universe, the leading international performance art festival and commissioning body.
The pavilion architecture will be designed by Kārlis Bērziņš of ĒTER, who co-curated and co-designed the Baltic pavilion at the Venice Biennale Architettura 2016, a joint exhibition by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The work for the pavilion draws upon the research and theories of Lithuanian archeologist Marija Gimbutas, into Neolithic spirituality and the non-separability between the sacred and the everyday. While questioning colonial dimensions inherent in the science of archaeology, this new film poetically translates archaeological materials into choreographies of collectivity, rhythms and song.
Eglė Budvytytė is an artist based in Vilnius and Amsterdam working at the intersection between the visual and performing arts. Her practice, spanning song, video and performance, explores the persuasive power of collectivity, vulnerability and permeable relationships between bodies, audiences and the environment.
Eglė Budvytytė said “I am thrilled and humbled to create a pavilion for the Biennale di Venezia. Together with a group of collaborators and kindred spirits, we’re readying for a deep dive into the ideas that have been feeding us in recent years — the intimacies of relations between land and bodies, ritual and the power of collectivity.”
Louise O’Kelly, Curator, said „I am honoured to collaborate with Eglė and the National Gallery of Art team in curating the Lithuanian Pavilion for the next Venice Biennale. Having worked with Eglė over several years, I am continually drawn to the depth and authenticity of her inquiry into the practice of embodiment, social relations, and our symbiotic relationship with the environment. Eglė’s practice offers a unique worldview that speaks to the significance of ancient belief systems and other ways of knowing and being together – community-centred values that feel more urgent and necessary than ever.„
Lolita Jablonskienė, Commissioner, said, “The Lithuanian National Museum of Art is delighted to share the news that Eglė Budvytytė will present new work for the 61st Venice Biennale; one of her most ambitious projects to date. Drawing upon ideas and theories across time and geography, the work responds to and highlights the intimacies between the land and body.”
Lithuania has participated in the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia since 1999. The Lithuanian Pavilion has been awarded a special mention four times, and in 2019 it won the Golden Lion for Sun and Sea (Marina).
Still from the film Warmblooded and Earthbound, 2024
Commissioner: Lolita Jablonskienė
Curator: Louise O’Kelly
Exhibitor: Eglė Budvytytė
The artwork is produced in collaboration with Kanal–Centre Pompidou in Brussels, where it will be presented in a new form in 2027.
Eglė Budvytytė is an artist based in Vilnius and Amsterdam. Her work has been presented internationally, including Le Plateau, FRAC, Paris (2024); Canal Projects, New York; Vleeshal, Middelburg (2023); the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia; Whitechapel Gallery, London (2022); Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA) (2020); Renaissance Society, Chicago (2019); Baltic Triennial (2018); Lofoten International Art Festival; Block Universe Festival, London (2017); De Appel Arts Centre; CAC, Vilnius (2016); 19th Biennale of Sydney (2014); and Stedeljik Museum, Amsterdam (2012) amongst others. Egle has been artist in residence at Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Nida Art Colony, Lithuania; OCA, Norway and WIELS, Brussels.
Louise O’Kelly is an independent curator and arts professional specialising in contemporary art and performance. As the founder of Block Universe (2015–2022), London’s leading international performance art festival, she curated over 60 productions—including 30 new commissions and 14 UK premieres—partnering with Tate Modern, the Royal Academy of Arts, the British Museum, ICA, Whitechapel Gallery, and others. She also presented international programmes in Italy, Germany, the UAE, and online. O’Kelly has lectured at institutions including Goldsmiths, Boston University, and the Guildhall School (with the Barbican). She co-hosted Soho House’s Art Talks series (2013–2019) and contributed to sector research, serving on the Live Art Sector Review (LADA & Arts Council England, 2019–2021), co-founding the Performance Research Network (UK), and working as an Associate Researcher for Precarious Movements: Choreography & the Museum (2022–2023).
Lolita Jablonskiene (PhD) is an art historian and curator based in Vilnius, Lithuania. She is the director of the National Gallery of Art in Vilnius, a subdivision of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, in charge of its diverse exhibitions’ program which included partnerships with V&A, London, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, The Jewish Museum, NY, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw, Museum Jorn, Silkeborg, Estonian Art Museum, Tallinn, and other art institutions. Jablonskienė is an ex-commissioner of the Lithuanian pavilions at the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 1999 and 2005; has curated modern and contemporary art exhibitions in her home country and abroad, contributed art critical texts to Lithuanian and foreign press; associate professor at the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
The Lithuanian National Museum of Art (LNMA) is one of the largest national art museums in Lithuania, with a mission to preserve artistic heritage and highlight its importance in making a positive impact on people’s lives. The museum is renowned for its rich collection of fine arts, applied and folk art, rare amber and jewelry specimens, as well as other museum objects. The LNMA consists of eleven divisions situated in Vilnius, Klaipėda, Palanga, and Juodkrantė, including nine museums and galleries, as well as two national competence centers. In addition to collecting, conserving, researching, and promoting the works in its collection, the LNMA also organises temporary exhibitions, cultural events, and educational activities in Lithuania and abroad.
The National Gallery of Art (NGA), a subdivision of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, houses the LNMA’s collection of Lithuanian modern and contemporary art. Taking over the Modernist building of the former Museum of Revolution, it operates as a multifunctional centre for arts and culture. Along with its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, the NGA offers a variety of educational programs and cultural events, such as performances, workshops, and film screenings, providing opportunities for audiences of all ages, needs, and interests to engage with art and creativity.
ĒTER is a partnership of Kārlis Bērziņš, Dagnija Smilga, and Niklāvs Paegle – architects, researchers, and educators operating between the Alps and Baltic coastline. ĒTER is focused on creating unique environments at the intersection of nature, technology, and contemporary culture. In 2022, Daycare centre “Pērle” received the Grand Prix of Latvian Architecture Award and EUmies award nomination, while Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR at London Design Museum won the Dezeen Award for best exhibition architecture.
Kanal–Centre Pompidou is a new museum for modern and contemporary art slated to open in Brussels at the end of 2026.