September 19–December 13, 2026
The 18th Biennale of Contemporary Art in Lyon is curated by Catherine Nichols.
Taking Robert Filliou’s Principles of Poetic Economy (1976) as a point of reference, the exhibition explores how artistic practices engage with economic life through labour, exchange and care, as well as through the ways value is produced and understood. Developed across several emblematic sites in Lyon, the exhibition is shaped by the city’s long history as a centre of trade, industry and finance. Contemporary works are shown alongside historical artworks, archival materials and objects, creating a set of encounters that situate artistic practice within broader political, social and material conditions and propose a reconsideration of how economies are imagined.
Curatorial statement
"It’s impossible to ignore: thinking about social and political change rarely gets very far without attention to economic relations. Inspired by artist-economist Robert Filliou’s reflections on how economies are imagined and organised, this edition of the biennale surveys practices that examine established forms of exchange and cooperation and consider how they might be otherwise. In a city renowned for its commercial and industrial influence, it asks how art can make visible the assumptions that underpin economic life and open them to negotiation."
About Catherine Nichols
Catherine Nichols is an internationally renowned curator and writer of Australian origin based in Berlin. Her work moves between contemporary art, cultural history and interdisciplinary research. She was the curator of Manifesta 14 Prishtina (2022) and has led numerous major exhibitions and long-term projects in Europe. Nichols is currently a curator at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin. Her practice is marked by close attention to context, narrative and the relationship between artworks, sites and audiences.
In 2026, Frieze magazine named Catherine Nichols one of six curators to watch.
About the Biennale de Lyon
The Biennale de Lyon alternates between two major events:
– The Biennale of Contemporary Art, under the artistic direction of Isabelle Bertolotti
–The Biennale of Dance, under the artistic direction of Tiago Guedes
The Biennale de Lyon is chaired by Laurent Bayle and led by Managing Director Cécile Bourgeat.
