Les Ateliers Varan is proud to announce that Yto Barrada, a Franco-Moroccan artist and former participant in our workshops, has been selected to represent France at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. This selection, announced by the Institut français, highlights the international recognition of her multidisciplinary work.

Born in 1971 in Paris, Yto Barrada grew up in Tangier. She studied history and political science at the Sorbonne, then photography in New York. Her artistic career is marked by a multidisciplinary approach, integrating photography, film, sculpture, and installations. Her work explores themes such as history, memory, and social dynamics.

In 1998, Yto Barrada participated in a documentary filmmaking workshop at Ateliers Varan, where she directed the short film Ne me quittez pas. In this film, Yto Barrada explores themes such as distance, waiting, and human relationships, capturing scenes in public phone booths where fleeting, closed-door encounters take place. Watch Yto Barrada’s film for free on our documentary film platform

Among her notable achievements, she co-founded the Tangier Cinematheque in 2006, a space dedicated to the dissemination and preservation of Morocco’s cinematic heritage. Her work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions such as the Tate Modern in London, the MoMA in New York, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Les Ateliers Varan welcomes the nomination of Yto Barrada to represent France at the 2026 Venice Biennale and is pleased to see one of its former participants achieve further acclaim and recognition on the international art scene.

Yto Barrada