The 59th edition of the world-renowned International Art Exhibition in Venice continues to further the fair’s legacy. The legendary art fair, considered to be "the Olympics of the art world," is near its end, running now through the 27th of November.

Originally established with a focus on Italian art, the Venice Biennale has since expanded to include pavilions for 79 nations. Spread over three main fair sites, satellite exhibitions, installations and events throughout Venice, the Biennale brings a bevy of international art to Italy's beloved lagoon city.

As the curator of this year's ground-breaking edition of the fair, Cecilia Alemani became the first woman to take the reins of the Biennale. Her mission “to give voice to artists to create unique projects that reflect their visions and our society” has been reflected in the participating artists as a majority of them are female and gender non-conforming.

This year’s Golden Lion winners, Simone Leigh and Sonia Boyce OBE, are just two major names representing the sea change in the art world's modern perspective. Work by Ruth Asawa, Carol Rama and Barbara Kruger and others in diverse pavilions make up the voices this Biennale's edition has highlighted.

Choosing the title The Milk Of Dreams, Alemani organised the Biennale with three themes in mind: the representation of bodies and their metamorphoses, the relationship between individuals and technologies and the connection between bodies and the Earth.

From the time capsules of the Giardini, the Central Pavilion, the Arsenale and the labyrinthine streets of Venice, there's much to be discovered on the Biennale grounds during its final month.

Beyond the fair, The Cultivist has its eye on collateral events and museum exhibitions that vie for attention. Marlene Dumas: Open-end at Palazzo Grassi and Anselm Kiefer: These writings, when burned, will finally cast a little light (Andrea Emo) at Doge's Palace are must-see exhibitions.

We are also infatuated with Danh Vo's collaborative exhibition at Fondazione Querini Stampalia with White Cube, where the artist presents an exhibition in the historical palace that places his practice in dialogue with works by Park Seo-Bo and Isamu Noguchi.

Image: Central Pavilion by Andrea Avezzu. Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia