Berggruen Institute to establish European hub at Venice's Casa dei Tre Oci

The Berggruen Institute will acquire Venice's Casa dei Tre Oci from the Fondazione di Venezia, marking its first European base. A preliminary agreement has been signed, with the final deal allowing the Fondazione di Venezia to continue photography exhibitions at the site for two years post-acquisition. The 1913 neo-Gothic building, originally designed by artist Mario de Maria as a home and studio, will host international summits, workshops, symposia, and exhibitions in visual arts and architecture. Since opening in 2012 after restoration in 2000, Tre Oci has featured photographers like David Lachapelle, Helmut Newton, and Lewis Hine. Nicolas Berggruen, listed on ArtReview's Power 100 in 2020, emphasized Venice's historical role as a global crossroads and the institute's aim to foster dialogue across cultures and disciplines. The institute plans to maintain the venue's cultural identity while using it to address 21st-century challenges through gatherings of policymakers, artists, scholars, and technologists. Its primary headquarters are under construction in Los Angeles.