Jimmie Durham is the Recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia

Jimmie Durham is the recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia – May You Live In Interesting Times.

The decision was made by La Biennale’s Board of Directors chaired by Paolo Baratta, upon recommendation of the Curator of the 58th International Art Exhibition, Ralph Rugoff. Ralph Rugoff suggested the name of the recipient with the following comments:

“I have nominated Jimmie Durham for the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 58th International Art Exhibition based on his remarkable accomplishments as an artist over the past six decades, and in particular for making art that is at once critical, humorous and profoundly humanistic. An artist, performer, essayist and poet, Durham had his first solo exhibition in 1965 (we should probably be giving him two lifetime awards by this point in time). His generously expansive artistic practice spans many media, including drawing, collage, photography and video, but he is best known for his sculptural constructions, often made from natural materials as well as inexpensive common objects that evoke particular histories….”

The award ceremony is on Saturday, 11th May 2019 at Ca’ Giustinian.