The 2026 Whitney Biennial showcases a diverse and intergenerational group of artists, offering a comprehensive view of contemporary American art. Curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer, the exhibition features 56 artists, duos, and collectives, who explore themes of crumbling infrastructures, the relationship between humans and nature, and the urgency of self-determination. Here are eight standout artists from this year's Biennial:
Young Joon Kwak (b. 1984, Queens, New York)
Young Joon Kwak's 'Divine Dance of Soft Revolt (Anna, Travis, Me)' (2024) is a vibrant and playful installation that celebrates queer joy and resistance. The work features casts of the bodies of queer and trans individuals from Los Angeles, covered in glitter and mirrored glass, creating a disco-like atmosphere. Kwak's use of electronic music and the interactive nature of the installation transport viewers to a place of queer exuberance.Raven Halfmoon (b. 1991, Oklahoma City)
Raven Halfmoon's 'Too Ancient to Care' (2025-26) and 'Sun Twins' (2023) are powerful ceramic sculptures that draw inspiration from the artist's Caddo Nation culture and ancestral traditions. 'Too Ancient to Care' stands tall in the plaza, claiming space for Caddo women, while 'Sun Twins' inside the museum illustrates the value of community and the importance of family and ancestors.Emilie Louise Gossiaux (b. 1989, New Orleans)
Emilie Louise Gossiaux's work 'Co-Shaping One Another with the Moon' (2025) is a poignant reflection on the relationship between a person and their service animal. The artist depicts their beloved service dog, London, through drawings and sculptures, sometimes blurring the lines between the two bodies. The one-hundred hand-crafted sculptures of a Kong toy, filled with vibrant colors, symbolize eternal happiness for the dog, who passed away in 2025.Akira Ikezoe (b. 1979, Kochi, Japan)
Akira Ikezoe's paintings, such as 'Frog Stories Around Nuclear Power Plant' (2025), present circular systems through fantastical narratives. Ikezoe pairs images of energy infrastructure with animals, implying a connection between nature and man. The paintings, filled with quirky and absurd imagery, point to the unseen connections between species and the self-damaging nature of human existence.Kelly Akashi (b. 1983, Los Angeles)
Kelly Akashi's 'Monument (Altadena)' (2026) is a site-specific installation that reflects on loss, survival, and rebuilding. Inspired by the remains of her home and studio after the 2025 wildfires, the work features a glass installation on the museum's terrace, along with a cut-steel sculpture. Akashi's participation in the Biennial is a testament to resilience and the power of community in the face of natural disasters.Aziz Hazara (b. 1992, Wardak, Afghanistan)
Aziz Hazara's 'Moon Sightings' (2024) is a powerful series of archival pigment prints set against a dark backdrop. The work explores power relations and the unintended repercussions of geopolitical actions, particularly in the context of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Hazara's compositions, filled with biometric data and retinal scans, evoke the energy of war-torn places and expand the notion of American art to include occupied territories.Nour Mobarak (b. 1985, Cairo)
Nour Mobarak's wall pieces, such as 'Recto Verso 1.1 (Coral Green)' (2024-25), use unconventional materials like breast milk, dehydrated blood, semen, and mycelium. The artist's casts of her own body resemble colorful, abstract compositions, reflecting the room and viewers in a distorted way. Mobarak's audio piece, 'Broad's Cast (Montage)' (2024-26), further pushes conventions by recording the outside world from within the artist's vaginal canal, revealing the awkwardness and messiness of the human experience.Jasmin Sian (b. 1969, Philippines)
Jasmin Sian's delicate paper artworks, such as 'spring dandelion and wild strawberries with texas bayou ghost turtles' (2025), resemble aged doilies but are made from found materials like fast-food bags and biscuit wrappers. The artist's intricate paintings of plants and animals demand a closer look, serving as intimate odes to the natural world. Sian's work has gained commercial traction in recent years, with successful art fair presentations.
