Florence Biennale 2019 Celebrates Leonardo da Vinci

The 12th Florence Biennale, an international contemporary art and design exhibition, will take place from October 18 to 27, 2019, at the Padiglione Spadolini in Fortezza da Basso, Florence. A major new feature is the inauguration of a dedicated design pavilion alongside the contemporary art section. The event hosts 747 exhibitors from 78 countries across five continents. The art section, curated by Melanie Zefferino, features 484 artists; the design section, curated by Gabriele Goretti, includes 263 designers. Italy is the most represented country with 66 participants, followed by China with 63. Bhutan debuts as a first-time participant. The 2019 theme, marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death, is "Ars et Ingenium. Similitudine e Invenzione. Celebrando Leonardo da Vinci." Over ten days, the biennale will include meetings, editorial presentations, and a study day on Leonardo on October 25 with notable scholars and museum directors.