Brilant shine in Venice

We're bringing you a special TenTen with Kosovar painter Brilant Milazimi. His art is funny but dark, somewhat playful, but edgy. He's also Kosova's artist at the Venice Biennale in 2026.

Feb 06, 2026

I’m not sure when was the first time I’ve seen a painting by Brilant Milazimi. Could have been in the Lambda Lambda Lambda, a tiny gallery managed by two Austrian curators in Prishtina, or Stacion Art Center, housed in a former synagogue in the old Prishtina. But I do remember that I was somewhat disturbed. Figures depicted were somewhat caricaturesque but the theme had a certain unsettling atmospherics.

Some years have passed since, and Brilant has become almost a household name in Kosova - or at least a name that reverberated rapidly across the contemporary arts scene from Prizren to Mexico City to Shanghai. Just in 2025, he had works shown at the 5th Autostrada Biennale show (curated by Erzen Shkololl), a solo exhibition at kurimanzutto gallery in New York, participated in a group show at Cité internationale des arts in Paris, and has currently a work shown at Brownie Project Gallery in Shanghai.

But 2026 promises to be brilliant for Brilant. He has been selected to represent the Republic of Kosovo at the Sixty-First Venice Biennale, to take place May 9–November 22. José Esparza Chong Cuy will curate our country’s pavilion, which is commissioned by Hana Halilaj, curator at the National Gallery of Kosovo (we’ll have Hana for TenTen soon!)

Intriguingly, Brilant’s massive new painting made for The Biennale (17 meters long!) will be shown in the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Pianto, a church and monastery which was built in 1658, but has been inaccessible since 1970. Brilant’s exhibition marks its first reopening to the public since in over half of century.

Quite a scene to shine.

Hello Brilant! You’re very busy with Venice so thanks for this talk. What’s the most inspiring or touching little thing you have discovered about The Most Serene Republic?

Hey Suzzie. I’m fascinated by how the city rests on water, by its fairytale-like architecture, the narrow streets, and the smell of the sea beneath Venice’s almost sacred light. And the opportunity to show my work there and in that light.

What’s the first piece of art that you remember as a child or youngster that truly disturbed you or left a significant mark?

As a kid I was obsessed with Van Gogh, especially the way he painted sunlight. The energy in those works felt almost physical. My taste has changed many times since, but that first intensity never left me.

You often depict clenched teeth in your art. Why?

Clenched teeth stand for anxiety and waiting, though sometimes also freezing, like that moment Migjeni describes in his 1937 New Year’s letter to a friend.

What’s the last thing that made you incredibly happy?

Representing Kosovo in the Venice Biennale this year, stands out as the happiest by far.

If you would pick a soundtrack for your artistic oeuvre, which three songs would be featured?

I don’t listen to music when I paint, ever. I need to hear my brush as it moves on the canvas so any other sound that blocks that sensation is not welcome.