When La Chola Poblete received a special mention at the Venice Biennale 2024, the significance extended far beyond individual achievement. Born in 1990 in Argentina, she became the first trans and brown artist from her country to reach the Biennale – and the first queer artist to receive special mention in its history.
The Artist: Body as Battlefield
Poblete's practice emerges from her own experience navigating the world in a trans body marked by both gender and race. Her work doesn't simply represent these experiences; it transforms them into visual languages that speak across difference. Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year 2023 (the first Latin American recipient) preceded her Venice triumph.
The Work: Healing Through Visibility
Her Venice presentation addressed discrimination not through protest alone but through what she calls "healing" – creating images of trans and brown bodies that exist in their fullness, their beauty, their resilience. Represented by Barro gallery and Travesía Cuatro, she has found institutional partners willing to support challenging work.
The Breakthrough: Historic Recognition
The special mention acknowledged both artistic achievement and historical significance. In a Biennale themed "Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere," Poblete's presence embodied the curatorial concept – foreign in her own country, welcomed at art's most prestigious gathering.
Why Now? Visibility Matters
As trans rights face attack globally, artists like Poblete create counter-images – proof of existence, of beauty, of survival. Her Venice recognition sends a message beyond art circles.
Conclusion: First of Many
La Chola Poblete's historic achievement opens doors for artists who will follow. Her special mention is both personal triumph and collective milestone.