Welcome to aabaakwad.

aabaakwad 2022 coming to Venice, Italy from April 22-25

aabaakwad (it clears after a storm) is a unique annual Indigenous-led conversation on Indigenous art by those who create, curate and write about it. A gathering that alternates annually between Toronto and international venues, showcasing dynamic dialogue examining themes, materials and experiences in Indigenous art practice globally. Founded in 2018 by Wanda Nanibush (Anishinaabe, Canada), aabaakwad brings together over 70 creatives from all over the world. We are Indigenous-led and artist-centred. 

aabaakwad has been seeded by its presenting partner the Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto, Canada), and main funders the Canada Council for the Arts and the Australian Arts Council. Internationally our presenting partners have been the Sydney Biennial under artistic direction of Brook Andrew (Wiradjuri, Australia), MCA Sydney, Sydney Opera House in 2020 and the Nordic Pavilion whose curatorial leadership is Beaska Niillas (Sámi, Norway/Sapmi), Liisa-Rávná Finbog (Sámi, Norway/Sapmi), and Katya Garcia Anton, Office of Contemporary Art Norway and Oceans Space.  

Everyone is welcome to aabaakwad. Engage in networking and listening to informal and in depth dialogue that is uncensored and self-representational. aabaakwad also showcases musicians, performance artists, poets, filmmakers and more through screenings, music nights and dedicated performances.

aabaakwad is now in its fifth year and will be part of programming for the 59th Venice Biennale from April 22-25 of 2022 in partnership with the exhibition The Sami Pavillion, in the Nordic Pavilion.