Walid Raad and the museum collection presence in Europe
Published on 08/19/2026 at 17:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Walid Raad has built an influential practice around archives, memory and the politics of images. His projects The Atlas Group, Scratching on Things I Could Disavow and Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions) have secured his work in key European public collections, including Moderna galerija in Ljubljana and institutions in Zurich and Hamburg.
Museum presence in Europe
One recent institutional anchor for Walid Raad was the exhibition Festival of (In)gratitude at Moderna galerija in Ljubljana, which ran from November 21, 2025 to May 17, 2026 and focused on his three major projects.
The show presented documents, videos and installations that explore political, economic and cultural conditions in Lebanon and the broader Middle East, emphasizing how violence leaves traces in images and narratives.
Collections and collaborations
Raad has also worked closely with the Kunsthaus Zürich, where his hybrid performance-exhibition format, often titled Walkthrough, turned the museum into a stage for guided narratives through its collection and history.
His collaborations with European institutions extend to photography-focused venues such as Deichtorhallen Hamburg, where he participates in projects like Inner Mornings, or Forms of Counterculture within the Triennial of Photography Hamburg, underscoring his position in discourse around documentary images.
Further background on Walid Raad
Readers can find additional news, interviews and institutional announcements on Walid Raad in the AD HOC NEWS archive, including exhibition reports and collection updates.
The work core and series
Walid Raad works primarily with photography, video, installation and performance to investigate how history is constructed and manipulated, often blending fictional documents with real events.
In The Atlas Group (1989–2004) he fabricates archives related to Lebanon’s wars, while Scratching on Things I Could Disavow examines new cultural infrastructures in the Arab world and Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions) documents urban change in Beirut.
Where the artist stands now
Walid Raad currently has no announced museum exhibition date within the immediate 30-day window, yet his established projects continue to circulate through institutional programs and scholarly publications.
Key facts on Walid Raad
- Artist: Walid Raad
- Medium / Genre: Photography, video, installation and performance (conceptual)
- Born: 1967, Chbanieh, Lebanon
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice between Beirut and New York, with long-standing teaching position at Bard College in New York state.
- Active since: Early 1990s, with The Atlas Group developed between 1989 and 2004.
- Key work groups: The Atlas Group (1989–2004), Scratching on Things I Could Disavow, Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions), Postscript to the Arabic Edition
- Current/last exhibition: Festival of (In)gratitude, Moderna galerija, Ljubljana, November 21, 2025–May 17, 2026.
- Major collections: Moderna galerija (Ljubljana), Kunsthaus Zürich, institutions connected to Deichtorhallen Hamburg’s Triennial of Photography, and other European museums engaging with his long-term projects.
- Awards: Recognized in international curatorial programs such as the Venice Biennale main exhibition In Minor Keys, where he participates with major installations.
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Walid Raad
Which museum recently hosted a major Walid Raad exhibition?
Moderna galerija in Ljubljana presented Festival of (In)gratitude from November 21, 2025 to May 17, 2026, showing works from The Atlas Group, Scratching on Things I Could Disavow and Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions).
How does Walid Raad engage with museum collections?
Raad often stages performance-lectures such as Walkthrough, which guide audiences through institutional collections and histories, as seen in his collaboration with Kunsthaus Zürich, blending narrative, critique and archival imagery.
What are the core themes of Walid Raad’s long-term projects?
His major series focus on the representation of conflict, the reliability of archives, and the construction of art histories in the Arab world, using fictionalized documents and installations to question how museums and collections frame political narratives.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
