GROUP SHOW WITH
JOANA VASCONCELOS

PALLAZINA FORTUNY, VENICE, ITALY
FROM 9 MAY 2026

On the occasion of the Venice Biennale 2026, opening on 9 May, Palazzina Fortuny becomes a stage for a compelling dialogue between contemporary artistic expression and architectural legacy. Set beside the historic Fortuny textile factory, the 1950s residence—once home to Elsie McNeill Lee, Countess Gozzi—re-emerges as an exclusive exhibition venue during the Biennale.The third Fortuny + Chahan collection brings together significant vintage furniture pieces with Chahan Minassian’s new designs in glass, bronze, and furniture. These are presented in dialogue with works by leading contemporary artists, including Joana Vasconcelos, Arne Quinze, and Eric Croes. Their contributions confront and expand Minassian’s interpretation of Brutalism, creating a layered narrative that bridges eras, materials, and artistic languages.

A defining highlight is SCHEHERAZADE by Joana Vasconcelos, prominently installed on the wall of the Palazzina alongside a vintage sofa by American designer Vladimir Kagan. In this encounter between sculptural exuberance and modernist elegance, the exhibition encapsulates its central premise: a dialogue between past and present, craftsmanship and experimentation, intimacy and monumentality.

© Photos Sébastien Veronese

FEATURED ARTIST

JOANA VASCONCELOS
Joana Vasconcelos (b. 1971) is a Portuguese visual artist with a career spanning nearly 30 years and a huge variety of media. Recognised for her monumental sculptures and immersive installations, she decontextualises everyday objects and updates the arts and crafts concept for the 21st century, establishing a dialogue between the private sphere and public space, popular heritage, and high culture. With humor and irony, she questions the status of women, consumer society, and collective identity.

International acclaim arrived in 2005 with The Bride at the first Venice Biennale curated by women, where she has returned three times to dat...
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