Palazzetto Marcello in Venice Opens as Cultural Hub with Luca Bertolo Show

In Venice, a private collection is transforming a historic palazzo into a cultural hub. Palazzetto Marcello, located in the Santa Maria Formosa area, will open its doors on November 5 with the exhibition 'L'inizio ci assale' by Milanese artist Luca Bertolo (b. 1968), curated by Elena Volpato and running until February 14, 2027. The palazzo, owned by collector Gianrico Specchio, has undergone restoration by Studio 91 architects Laura Zamboni and Emma Madinelli, who chose to preserve the building's historical stratifications rather than recreate an idealized past. The collection, amassed over more than twenty years, spans from the 1950s to contemporary works, including visual arts, design, and architecture. Specchio describes his collecting as a personal journey, acquiring works that speak to his sensibility, regardless of the artists' fame. The restoration revealed significant discoveries, including a diamond-patterned flooring in the entrance and courtyard hidden by a 20th-century intervention, and 1926 newspapers found under wallpaper. The new space is designed as a flexible venue for temporary exhibitions, with a ceramic ceiling installation by Caterina Mancuso in the entrance area. The choice of Santa Maria Formosa is strategic, placing the palazzo in a central yet residential area, near cultural institutions like the Fondazione Querini Stampalia and Palazzo Grimani.