Lee Ufan—Collateral Event of the 61st Venice Biennale

Lee Ufan is a major solo presentation of work by Lee Ufan, organised by Dia Art Foundation at SMAC Venice (San Marco Art Centre), an official Collateral Event of the 61st Venice Biennale. Curated by Jessica Morgan, Dia’s Nathalie de Gunzburg Director, the landmark exhibition will open on May 9, 2026.

Developed in close partnership with the artist, the exhibition traces the evolution of his iconic visual language with works ranging from new and historical paintings to large-scale installations and a new site-specific commission. The display is staged across eight of SMAC Venice’s galleries at the Procuratie in Piazza San Marco, bringing together a striking selection of works from over seven decades. Holistically, the presentation is designed to reflect both Lee’s long-standing dialogue with architectural space and his continued commitment to creating environments that prompt reflection and heightened awareness.

Lee, one of the foremost figures of the Japanese Mono-ha (School of Things) as well as a key contributor to the Korean Dansaekhwa (Monochromatic Paintings) movements, has long explored the possibilities of embodying and representing space and time through painterly gestures on canvas.

As Morgan has said, “I am delighted to bring the exhibition Lee Ufan to Venice in celebration of the artist’s 90th birthday. Dia has enjoyed a deep, enduring relationship with Lee, and it is fitting that this year we will present two ambitious projects at Dia Beacon and at SMAC Venice. The impact and importance of Lee’s work cannot be overstated, and the pivotal artworks presented illuminate the philosophical and the material through lines—gesture, interval, balance, and spatial tension—that have defined his decades-long practice.”

SMAC Venice founders Anna Bursaux, David Gramazio, David Hrankovic said: “We are honored to collaborate with Dia Art Foundation and Lee Ufan on this project in Venice, marking the most significant presentation of the artist’s work in Italy to date. Curated by Dia’s director and developed in close dialogue with the artist, key works from across Lee’s oeuvre will be displayed alongside a new site-specific installation. The exhibition exemplifies SMAC Venice’s mission to provide a platform for meaningful institutional collaboration and for presenting artists of lasting international significance.”

Concurrently with the Venice presentation, Dia Beacon in Beacon, New York, will unveil a new display of Lee’s paintings and sculptures. Together, these two exhibitions celebrate the artist’s 90th birthday, underscoring his extraordinary contribution across disciplines and geographies.

Significant support provided by Samsung Foundation of Culture, Pace Gallery and Mennour.

For press enquiries please contact:

International exhibition press: Sam Talbot, sam@sam-talbot.com.
Italian exhibition press: Studio Esseci Comunicazione di Roberta Barbaro e Simone Raddi, roberta@studioesseci.net.

General press enquiries: press@smacvenice.org.