Egbert Marday’s Spiritual Journey (2015) sits at Palazzo Mora in Venice — an assemblage of welded steel, fabric, resin, a trumpet, leather, dirt, and pigment. It is the first work by a Seychellois artist ever shown at the Venice Biennale, and it looks like nothing else in the room.
“There is nothing fake about Egbert; he has been living art all his life, just for art itself.” — Nina Comini, curator of Seychelles’ first Venice Biennale pavilion
The 61st Venice Biennale, running until 22 November 2026 and curated by Koyo Kouoh under the theme “In Minor Keys,” draws over 800,000 visitors globally. Seychelles’ National Pavilion — titled Existence on an Island and jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the European Cultural Centre — marks the country’s debut at the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition. Commissioned by Cecille Kalebi and curated by Nina Comini, the pavilion signals something larger: a small island nation deliberately building a contemporary art scene from scratch.
That scene is still thin. Comini describes Marday as “one of the very few contemporary artists in Seychelles.” Yet in 2026, two major initiatives — the Venice Biennale pavilion and the Mahé Ocean Murals public art project — are pushing Seychellois contemporary art onto international and local stages simultaneously. This article traces how that push is happening, who is driving it, and what it reveals about art-making in a place better known for beaches than biennales.
The Seychelles art scene is small, concentrated, and undergoing a deliberate international push. Government-led cultural diplomacy, grassroots public art initiatives, and a handful of dedicated artists like Egbert Marday are building visibility. But it remains a scene in formation, with few dedicated galleries and a contemporary art community that curator Nina Comini describes as “very few.” The most interesting thing about it isn’t its size — it’s how strategically it’s being built.
| Event / Figure | Type | Period | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egbert Marday | Contemporary artist | Active 2010s–present | First Seychellois at Venice Biennale (2026); Lifetime Achievement Award at Seychelles Arts Awards 2019 |
| Mahé Ocean Murals | Public art initiative | 20–30 March 2026 | Combines art, conservation, community; led by PangeaSeed and Save Our Seas Foundation |
| Christi Olivier Savy | Seychellois artist | Active 2020s | Participating artist in Mahé Ocean Murals |
| Jeanne Drouet | Seychellois artist | Active 2020s | Participating artist in Mahé Ocean Murals |
| Rennick Charlette | Seychellois artist | Active 2020s | Participating artist in Mahé Ocean Murals |
| Zoe Chong-Seng | Seychellois artist | Active 2020s | Participating artist in Mahé Ocean Murals |
| Seychelles Arts Awards | National awards programme | Annual | Marday won Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 |
| Existence on an Island | National Pavilion | 2026 | Seychelles’ debut at Venice Biennale, Palazzo Mora |
The table above covers the major figures and events. But the story behind them — how a country of 115 islands with no established gallery district ended up at the Biennale — requires closer attention.
Egbert Marday and the Venice Biennale
Marday has been making art for decades, but his profile shifted dramatically when the Ministry of Tourism and Culture selected him to represent Seychelles at the 61st Venice Biennale. The single work on display, Spiritual Journey (2015), is a life-sized human figure assembled from welded steel, fabric, resin, a trumpet, leather, dirt, and pigment. Curator Nina Comini described it as “one life-sized human object that says it all — the dusty musician whose music I can still hear.” Marday’s themes — spirituality, music, humanity, memory, island existence — emerge from materials that feel salvaged and personal.
Marday’s selection reflects a broader strategy. The Republic of Seychelles sees the Biennale as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy, destination branding, and creative industry development. The pavilion promotes Seychelles as a cultural destination beyond natural beauty tourism, creating opportunities for international partnerships and artistic exchanges. It is, in part, a statement that Seychellois narratives belong in global contemporary art conversations.
Mahé Ocean Murals: Art as Conservation
While Marday represents Seychelles abroad, the Mahé Ocean Murals initiative brings international artists to Seychelles. Running 20–30 March 2026 across Mahé island, the project is led by the non-profit PangeaSeed in partnership with the Save Our Seas Foundation and the Ministry for Tourism and Culture. Large-scale murals will appear in public spaces, created by Seychellois artists Christi Olivier Savy, Jeanne Drouet, Rennick Charlette, and Zoe Chong-Seng alongside international artists Kensuke Takahashi (Japan), George Rose (Australia), Ladislas Chachignot (France), and Marti Lund (South Africa).
The murals celebrate Seychelles’ ocean heritage. The country protects 30% of its ocean territory, among the highest levels globally. Its waters host more than 1,000 fish species, four sea turtle species (including the Endangered hawksbill and leatherback), and at least 25 species of whales and dolphins. Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climate change, overfishing, and pollution remain serious threats, and the murals are designed to make those stakes visible. Sheena Talma, SOSF ambassador, said the project “celebrates ocean diversity and local talent while raising awareness through visual storytelling.”
If you are on Mahé during late March 2026, the public event includes a panel discussion with artists, scientists, and conservationists, a film screening, and youth activities. The free skills-development workshop for local artists on large-scale painting techniques and art advocacy is also open to applicants — check with the Ministry for Tourism and Culture or PangeaSeed for details.
The initiative includes a free workshop for local Seychellois artists, taught by the international participants, covering large-scale painting techniques and art advocacy. Project partners include Woodworks, Alliance Française de Seychelles, The Palm Seychelles, and Wastea company Ltd. Akira Biondo, PangeaSeed Director of Operations and co-founder, noted that public art “makes complex ocean science visible, human, and locally relevant.”
Building a Scene: Infrastructure and Ambition
Both initiatives reveal a deliberate, government-supported push to grow contemporary art in Seychelles. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Creative Seychelles Agency, and the Department of Culture all play active roles. But the infrastructure remains thin. There is no dedicated contemporary art museum. Commercial galleries are scarce. Most exhibition space is in hotels or cultural centres.
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For visitors interested in seeing contemporary Seychellois art outside these flagship events, a cultural tour of Mahé can connect you with artists’ studios and heritage sites. The National Cultural Centre in Victoria occasionally hosts exhibitions, and the historical and heritage tours offer context on Creole architecture and colonial history that informs much of the visual culture.
That open question — can a scene be built this way? — is not yet resolved. The balance between international prestige projects and grassroots access remains delicate. The Mahé workshop is one answer; the Venice pavilion is another. How they connect over the next decade will define whether Seychelles develops a self-sustaining art world or remains dependent on government-led initiatives.
Two Models, One Moment: Comparing the Biennale and the Murals
The Venice Biennale pavilion and the Mahé Ocean Murals represent different approaches to building an art scene. One faces outward, the other inward. Both happened in 2026, and together they show the range of strategies at play.
| Dimension | Venice Biennale Pavilion | Mahé Ocean Murals |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | International (800,000+ visitors) | Local (Mahé island communities) |
| Primary goal | Cultural diplomacy, global visibility | Conservation awareness, community engagement |
| Lead artist(s) | Egbert Marday (solo) | Multiple artists (4 Seychellois + 4 international) |
| Duration | 2026 (months) | 20–30 March 2026 (10 days) |
| Venue | Palazzo Mora, Venice | Public spaces across Mahé |
| Curatorial framework | “In Minor Keys” (Koyo Kouoh) | Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans (PangeaSeed) |
| Funding & partners | Ministry of Tourism and Culture, European Cultural Centre, Creative Seychelles Agency | Save Our Seas Foundation, PangeaSeed, Ministry for Tourism and Culture, Woodworks, Alliance Française, The Palm Seychelles, Wastea |
A common misconception is that Seychelles’ art scene amounts to tourist-market batik and coconut-shell carvings. Those crafts exist and have their own value. But the contemporary art scene — represented by figures like Egbert Marday and initiatives like the Mahé Ocean Murals — operates in a different register entirely, engaging with global contemporary art conversations about materiality, identity, and conservation. The two worlds rarely overlap, and conflating them obscures what is actually developing.
- Seychelles’ contemporary art scene is small but strategically developing through government-led cultural diplomacy and public art initiatives.
- Egbert Marday’s Venice Biennale debut in 2026 marks a milestone for Seychellois contemporary art on the world stage.
- The Mahé Ocean Murals (March 2026) embed conservation messaging into the urban landscape while training local artists.
- The scene faces real challenges of scale, infrastructure, and training opportunities — how these are addressed will determine its long-term viability.
Questions Readers Ask
Is there a contemporary art gallery scene in Seychelles?
Gallery infrastructure is limited. Most contemporary art is shown at hotels, cultural centres, and through temporary exhibitions. The National Cultural Centre in Victoria occasionally hosts exhibitions, and the Venice Biennale pavilion is a major step toward international visibility. No dedicated contemporary art museum exists yet.
Who are the most important Seychellois artists today?
Egbert Marday is the most internationally recognized, with his 2026 Venice Biennale debut. Emerging names include Christi Olivier Savy, Jeanne Drouet, Rennick Charlette, and Zoe Chong-Seng, all selected for the Mahé Ocean Murals. Marday received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seychelles Arts Awards in 2019.
Where can I see public art in Seychelles?
The Mahé Ocean Murals initiative (20–30 March 2026) creates large-scale murals across Mahé island, led by PangeaSeed and the Save Our Seas Foundation. The public event includes panel discussions, film screenings, and youth activities. After the project, murals remain in place as permanent public art.
Can I buy contemporary Seychellois art?
There is no centralized market. Works by artists like Marday occasionally appear through private sales or at charity auctions. The Creative Seychelles Agency may provide guidance. The Venice Biennale exhibition is a cultural diplomacy platform, not a sales venue.
Is Seychelles’ art scene only about the ocean?
No — but marine conservation is a dominant theme because of the country’s dependence on healthy oceans. Marday’s work explores spirituality, music, and memory, not primarily ocean themes. The Mahé Ocean Murals explicitly connect art to conservation, but the scene is broader than any single subject.
What the Art Scene Reveals About Seychelles’ Identity
The contemporary art scene in Seychelles is not just about aesthetics — it is a deliberate act of nation-building. Through the Venice Biennale and the Mahé Ocean Murals, the country tells a story about itself: a small island nation with a big commitment to conservation, cultural confidence, and creative expression. The scene is small, and the challenges are real. But the ambition is outsized, and the direction is clear. For a deeper look at the stories that shape Seychellois identity, see our guide to Seychelles folklore, myths, legends, and stories passed down through generations.
Sources and further reading
Save Our Seas Foundation. “Public Art Will Celebrate Seychelles Oceans Across Mahé’s Cityscape.” 2026. 🔗
Seychelles Cultural Encounters. “Seychelles Artist Egbert Marday Makes Historic Debut at the 61st Venice Biennale.” 2026. 🔗
Seychelles Cultural Encounters. “Public Art Will Celebrate Seychelles Oceans Across Mahé’s Cityscape.” 2026. 🔗
PangeaSeed. “Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans.” 🔗
Related reading on IslandHopperGuides
The Art of Sega: Exploring the Story Behind the Soulful Seychellois Dance — Seychellois dance and music as parallel creative traditions.
Seychelles Architecture: A Journey Through Colonial and Creole Styles — The built environment as another canvas for Seychellois cultural expression.
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