Lorna Simpson Makes History at the Venice Biennale
By Wim Langedijk for HURS
Lorna Simpson Makes History at the Venice Biennale
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By HURS Team
1
Inside Lorna Simpson’s Standout Venice Exhibition
Lorna Simpson’s Third Person at Venice’s Punta della Dogana brings together 50 works spanning painting, collage, sculpture, film and installation, expanding on her 2025 Met exhibition Source Notes. The acclaimed American artist explores memory, race, gender and fractured narratives through layered archival imagery and surreal compositions. Highlights include collages made from vintage Ebony and Jet magazines and monumental paintings rooted in historical race riots, creating resonant parallels between past and present.
ANOTHER MAGAZINE
Author Lydia Pang reflects on infertility, miscarriage and the bitterness she tried to suppress while pursuing motherhood. Drawing on the Chinese idiom “eat bitter,” Pang explores how pain, resentment and vulnerability can become sources of resilience and creativity rather than shame. Writing her memoir became a way to confront grief, ultimately helping her embrace uncertainty, surrender control and rediscover hope as she unexpectedly became pregnant with her daughter.
HOW TO SPEND IT
Photographer Anthony Wilson pays tribute to West Virginia women who have become mothers again, raising grandchildren in the wake of addiction, incarceration, neglect and loss. Photographed over five years, the project combines intimate portraits with handwritten reflections from grandmothers balancing grief, resilience and unconditional care. Rather than framing them through hardship alone, Wilson highlights the emotional strength, sacrifice and tenderness of these women, portraying caregiving as both an act of survival and profound devotion across generations.
THE NEW YORKER
Naomi Ackie reflects on overcoming shyness through acting, which she describes as a space where she could become more confident and expressive. After acclaimed performances in Lady Macbeth and Sorry, Baby, the British actress is embracing bolder roles, including Boots Riley’s anticapitalist sci-fi film I Love Boosters and DC’s Clayface. Following the mixed reception to her portrayal of Whitney Houston, Ackie says she now approaches career “breakthroughs” with less pressure, focusing instead on creative risk and personal growth.
T MAGAZINE
Chaka Khan discusses her new single “Chakzilla,” upcoming album collaborations and decades-long career with characteristic ease and confidence. The legendary singer reflects on creativity as a spiritual calling rather than a pursuit of awards, while sharing her love of film, painting and sleep; including her refusal to use alarm clocks. Ahead of a musical based on her life, Khan emphasizes intuition and following one’s heart over carefully planned ambition.