Faculty artists will present at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia and facilitate a university-sponsored dialogue about the global future of art.
May 10–July 10, 2026
For the first time in Vanderbilt's history, faculty artists—María Magdalena Campos-Pons and Kamaal Malak—have been invited to one of the world’s most important culturally defining art exhibitions: the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, In Minor Keys, by Koyo Kouoh.
As an expansion of their contribution to the Biennale Arte 2026, Campos-Pons and Malak, through Vanderbilt's Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice, present Resonance: an exhibition and public program series that brings Vanderbilt and Nashville into dialogue with global artists, showcases the university's talent and contributes to the wider dialogue about the future of art.
MacArthur Fellow, Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair Professor of Fine Arts, and Founder of the Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice. Campos-Pons is an interdisciplinary artist working across painting, performance, photography, sculpture, film and video. Her practice anchors the exhibition’s exploration of memory, identity, spirituality and care through artistic form and public convening.
Artist, musician, producer and educator, and a professor of Cultural Advocacy and Leadership at Vanderbilt. Malak brings sound, performance and interdisciplinary collaboration into the project, helping shape the exhibition’s sonic and conversational dimension.
This moment marks a defining step in Vanderbilt’s global arts strategy. It brings together faculty, students, alumni and international collaborators in a shared inquiry, positioning Vanderbilt as an active participant in the future of the arts.