Former RPI professor and creator of RPI’s Center for Deep Listening Pauline Oliveros has been posthumously invited to be a part of the 2026 Venice Biennale, one of the world’s leading international exhibitions of contemporary art. Oliveros’ work will be presented in the main exhibition of The Biennale, as part of a curated selection that emphasizes intimacy and quieter artistic frequencies. 

The 2026 Biennale, titled In Minor Keys and fulfilling the curation of the late Koyo Kouoh, focuses on “subtle emotional registers” and “poetic frequencies,” with Oliveros’ inclusion highlighting the exhibition’s exploration of sound, music, and deep listening within the context of contemporary art.  

The exhibition will run from May 9 through November 22, 2026, in Venice, and will feature 111 invited participants from all over the world, including Senzeni Marasela, Guadalupe Maravilla, Manuel Mathieu, and Georgina Maxim. 

Oliveros, who served on the RPI faculty from 2001 until 2016, founded the practice of Deep Listening, which develops heightened awareness of sound, attention, and environment. Rooted in both artistic practice and everyday experience, Deep Listening encourages participants to engage actively with what they hear, exploring the relationship between sound, space, and perception. 

In 2014, Oliveros established the Center for Deep Listening at RPI, creating a space for innovation, exploration, and education grounded in her approach to sound and attention. The center continues to offer opportunities in the practice of Deep Listening, from workshops designed for the campus community to online training programs available to students around the globe. Most recently, the center hosted artists who worked with RPI students to launch Deep Listening Radio – a broadcast platform for student and community work – and install a “garden” of sound sculptures for contemplative listening on campus. 

“Pauline Oliveros’ work continues to shape how artists and students think about sound and listening,” said Stephanie Loveless, director of the Center for Deep Listening. “Her inclusion in the Venice Biennale is a testament to the continued resonance of her work.” 

Learn more at https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/biennale-arte-2026-invited-artists.