The Italian Luxury House Hosted A Series Of Art And Cultural Gatherings Across Venice Tied To Key Biennale Collaborations
Bottega Veneta reinforced its longstanding relationship with Venice during the 2026 Venice Biennale through a series of cultural events and artistic collaborations staged across the city.
Marking sixty years since the house’s founding and continuing a new chapter under creative director Louise Trotter, the Italian luxury brand partnered with both the Pinault Collection and the Pier Luigi Nervi Foundation on projects tied to the Biennale d’Arte.
The program opened on May 6 with a breakfast salotto dedicated to If All Time Is Eternally Present, a collateral Biennale project presented in collaboration with the Pier Luigi Nervi Foundation. Held in Venice, the gathering brought together artists Tai Shani, Meriem Bennani, Orian Barki, and Kandis Williams alongside curators Marta Barina and Chiara Carrera for a discussion moderated by editorial curator Francesca Gavin.
Later that evening, Bottega Veneta and the foundation hosted the official opening cocktail for the exhibition in Campo Manin. The public-space installation features moving-image works by the four artists, positioning contemporary art directly within Venice’s urban and architectural landscape rather than inside a traditional institutional setting.
The cultural programming concluded on May 7 with a cocktail hosted at the Bottega Veneta Venice Residence, Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel, in partnership with Hauser & Wirth to celebrate Lorna Simpson. Third Person. The exhibition by the American artist unfolds within the 15th-century palazzo, creating a dialogue between contemporary works, historic interiors, and Venetian atmosphere.
The events continue Bottega Veneta’s broader strategy of linking the brand to contemporary art, craftsmanship, and cultural patronage rooted in Venice, where the house was founded in 1966.
Over the years, the brand has supported numerous Venetian cultural initiatives, including restoration projects at St. Mark’s Basilica, collaborations with Biennale Danza and Biennale Architettura, partnerships with Palazzo Grassi, and artisan-focused initiatives through its Bottega for Bottegas program.
By activating both public spaces and historic venues during the Biennale, Bottega Veneta continues to position Venice not only as a source of heritage inspiration, but also as a living platform for contemporary cultural dialogue and artistic exchange.