François Pinault to Launch Permanent Display of 106 Works at Palazzo Grassi in Venice

François Pinault, the French billionaire collector and founder of Kering and Artemis, will establish a permanent display of his collection at Palazzo Grassi in Venice, ending the venue's temporary exhibition programme. The announcement came in an interview with Le Monde published on 15 October. The permanent exhibition will feature 106 pieces by 54 artists from Pinault's holdings, which now exceed 10,000 works amassed over 20 years. Pinault purchased Palazzo Grassi in 2005 and opened it in 2006. A Michael Armitage show remains on view there until 10 January 2027. Temporary exhibitions will continue at Pinault's other Venetian venue, Punta della Dogana. Pinault explained that the collection's evolution over two decades—growing, becoming more structured, with certain works standing out for their power and ability to transcend time—prompted the shift. He noted that a permanent display allows juxtaposition of works from different periods and generations, showing how certain questions persist beyond individuality, without freezing the collection or offering a definitive interpretation. His collecting tastes, revealed in the interview, center on Minimalism and Arte Povera, alongside a long-standing interest in African-American art driven by encounters with figures like David Hammons. He also values studio visits, citing a recent meeting with young French artist Louis Le Kim, and emphasized the need to behave delicately in artists' studios.