Liverpool Biennial has announced the program for its 11th edition. Postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the edition will run from 20 March – 6 June 2021, with previews held on 18 and 19 March.
The programme announcement comes amid uncertainty surrounding the departure of the Biennial Director Fatos Üstek, after only seventeen months on the job. Fatos Üstek resigned from her position as director of the Liverpool Biennial in the wake of a disagreement with the biennial’s board of trustees. Two trustees Board members, artists Fiona Banner and attorney John Sharples resigned in support of the former director. “Governance issues with a lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities, and processes not being followed, taken together made my role untenable,” Üstek said in a statement sent to The Art Newspaper.
Samantha Lackey, the Head of Collections of Manchester’s Whitworth Museum has been appointed as Interim Director who will work with the curator of the 11th edition Manuela Moscoso to deliver the programme of exhibitions and events. It will unfold over 12 weeks, showcasing and celebrating the city’s most iconic buildings and architecture. New venues announced include the historic Lewis’s Building which will host 16 works. The Grade II listed former department store is well-loved by Liverpool’s residents and after 10 years of closure, the site will be reopened for LB2021, with two floors dedicated to a wide array of multi-disciplinary art works, including many new commissions.
New for 2021, Liverpool Biennial is excited to announce an additional venue partnership with the historic Lewis’s Building. Spanning over two floors, the space will be filled with works from sixteen of our 11th Edition artists, making it a focal and dynamic hub in the upcoming programme.
Participating Artists
Larry Achiampong (UK/Ghana), Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S), Erick Beltrán (Mexico), Diego Bianchi (Argentina), Alice Channer (UK), Judy Chicago (USA), Ithell Colquhuon (UK), Christopher Cozier (Trinidad & Tobago), Yael Davids (Jerusalem/Netherlands), Ines Doujak (Austria) & John Barker (UK), Dr. Lakra (Mexico), Jadé Fadojutimi (UK), Jes Fan (Hong Kong/Canada), Lamin Fofana (Sierra Leone/USA), Ebony G. Patterson (Jamaica), Sonia Gomes (Brazil), Ane Graff (Norway), Ayesha Hameed (UK/Canada), Camille Henrot (France), Nicholas Hlobo (South Africa), Laura Huertas Millán (Colombia), Sohrab Hura (India), Invernomuto (Italy) & Jim C. Nedd (Italy), Rashid Johnson (USA), KeKeÇa (Turkey), Jutta Koether (Germany), lastyearzinterestingnegroisdead (UK), Ligia Lewis (USA/Dominican Republic), Linder (UK), Luo Jr‐shin (Taiwan), Jorge Menna Barreto (Brazil), Haroon Mirza (UK), Neo Muyanga (South Africa), Pedro Neves Marques (Portugal), Roland Persson (Sweden), Anu Põder (Estonia), Reto Pulfer(Switzerland/Germany), André Romão (Portugal), Kathleen Ryan (USA), Zineb Sedira (France), Xaviera Simmons (USA), Teresa Solar (Spain), Daniel Steegmann Mangrané (Spain/Brazil), Jenna Sutela (Finland), UBERMORGEN (Austria/USA), Leonardo Impett (UK/Italy) and Joasia Krysa (Poland), Luisa Ungar (Colombia/Austria), Alberta Whittle (Barbados), Zheng Bo (China), David Zink Yi (Peru/Germany)