Barbati Gallery Opens in Venice During Biennale Arte 2022

A new commercial gallery, Barbati Gallery, opened in Venice during the preview week of the 2022 Venice Biennale. Founded by Michele Barbati, the gallery is located in the 16th-century Palazzo Lezze in Campo Santo Stefano, a space previously used for the Azerbaijan Pavilion in past Biennales. Barbati, originally from Modena and a Venice resident for nearly 15 years, was inspired by his mother's home gallery. After studying, he worked briefly at Massimo De Carlo, then spent seven years in Los Angeles directing David Kordansky Gallery. He is joined by Marco Rovacchi, formerly of Franco Noero's staff. The gallery's inaugural exhibition, "Life Forms," is the first European solo show for Los Angeles-based artist Kelly Akashi (b. 1983). The show opened on April 20, 2022, from 5 to 8 PM. Akashi's sculptures, created specifically for the exhibition, were produced between Los Angeles and Murano, combining mouth-blown glass and cast bronze. The gallery spans approximately 660 square meters and plans to host four to five exhibitions annually, featuring a selection of Italian and international artists. Barbati also intends to open a second gallery location in Los Angeles by 2024.