Under Krista Thompson’s curatorial vision, the Bahamian Pavilion will present the work of the revered Bahamian artist John Beadle (1964–2024) and critically acclaimed contemporary visual artist Lavar Munroe (b. 1982), with a posthumous collaboration between the late and the living artist. Both Beadle’s and Munroe’s work is deeply rooted in Bahamian artistic and social practices, like Junkanoo, the national processional festival that continues to inspire generations of Bahamian creativity. Their dialogue—grounded in the culture of The Bahamas and addressing pressing issues faced in many parts of the world—forms the conceptual and visual foundation of the Pavilion. 

Resonating with the Biennale’s overarching theme, In Minor Keys, envisioned by the late Koyo Kouoh, which celebrates “artists who work at the boundaries of form and whose practices can be thought of as intricate melodies to be heard both collectively and on their own terms,” Dr. Thompson’s curatorial approach offers a distinctly Bahamian interpretation of this sentiment. The Pavilion will highlight Beadle's and Munroe's use of discarded materials and processes of artistic collaboration to call attention to the hidden, the undervalued, “the minor notes,” in society and in the art world.

Featured Artworks (left to right)

John Beadle, Mobile Housing Unit, 2012 © John Beadle Estate with support from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture

Lavar Munroe, Bridge Over Troubled Water, 2026 Courtesy of the artist, Larkin Durey and Monique Meloche