Explore our history

Explore the artists' work of the 2020s – the decade that began with a global battle against Covid – including Sonia Boyce's award-winning Feeling Her Way.

Discover the artists and architects who presented their work at the British Pavilion from 2010 onwards.

Zaha Hadid and Peter Cook were involved in pioneering architecture presentations, whilst Steve McQueen and Chris Ofili pushed the boundaries of the art exhibitions.

The British Pavilion began presenting exhibitions by British architects and designers at the Architecture Biennale in this decade.

The exhibitions in the 1980s were challenged by theft, damage, bad weather and artistic criticism.

Find out which artist had the first ever solo exhibition at the Pavilion.

Abstract painting, striking sculpture, Pop Art and Op Art dominated the Pavilion exhibitions in the swinging sixties.

Group exhibitions in the 1950s launched the international careers of young artists, including Lucian Freud.

A stand out exhibition by a well-known sculptor revived the British Pavilion after the Second World War.

After decades of campaigning, the newly founded British Council took responsibility for the British Pavilion in the 1930s.

Discover why the 1920s was the most troubled decade in the British Pavilion's history.

The First World War had great implications for the British Pavilion, find out what happened.

Due to the increasing numbers of British artists showing at the Biennale, a new British Pavilion was opened.

Discover how the very first Venice Biennale began.