Alum Bana Kattan to Curate the National Pavilion UAE at the 2026 Venice Biennale

School of the Art Institute of Chicago alum Bana Kattan (MA 2011), curator and associate head of Exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, has been appointed curator of the National Pavilion for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. Selected by a committee of leaders from the UAE’s cultural sector, Kattan will oversee a presentation accompanied by a dedicated publication. Formerly associate curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Kattan has curated exhibitions featuring artists such as Wafaa Bilal (MFA 2003) and Mona Hatoum. Deeply rooted in the UAE’s art scene, she continues to foster dialogue across generations and disciplines.