Fondazione Dries Van Noten Opens in Venice with 'The Only True Protest Is Beauty'
Dries Van Noten has inaugurated his foundation in Venice at Palazzo Pisani Moretta on the Grand Canal. The inaugural exhibition, 'The Only True Protest Is Beauty,' runs from April 25 to October 4, 2026. Curated by Van Noten himself, the show features over 200 works across twenty rooms, blending fashion, art, design, ceramics, glass, and photography. The title is borrowed from American songwriter Phil Ochs. Highlights include archival pieces by Christian Lacroix and Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Garçons, alongside works by emerging artists like Ayham Hassan. The exhibition also includes pieces by Peter Buggenhout, Ritsue Mishima, Kaori Kurihara, Hubert Duprat, Misha Kahn, and Ann Carrington. The scenography, also by Van Noten, avoids hierarchy, using the palazzo's frescoes and architecture as active participants. More than twenty behind-the-scenes videos accompany the show. Access is through a membership program, and the exhibition offers a rare chance to see the palazzo before its upcoming restoration. The foundation was co-founded by Dries Van Noten and Patrick Vangheluwe.
Key facts
- Fondazione Dries Van Noten opens at Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Venice.
- Inaugural exhibition 'The Only True Protest Is Beauty' runs April 25 to October 4, 2026.
- Curated by Dries Van Noten, featuring over 200 works across 20 rooms.
- Title borrowed from American songwriter Phil Ochs.
- Includes fashion by Christian Lacroix and Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo).
- Features emerging artist Ayham Hassan.
- Works by Peter Buggenhout, Ritsue Mishima, Kaori Kurihara, Hubert Duprat, Misha Kahn, Ann Carrington.
- Access via membership program; palazzo to undergo restoration after exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Dries Van Noten
- Phil Ochs
- Christian Lacroix
- Rei Kawakubo
- Ayham Hassan
- Peter Buggenhout
- Ritsue Mishima
- Kaori Kurihara
- Hubert Duprat
- Misha Kahn
- Ann Carrington
- Steven Shearer
- Kate MccGwire
- Virginia Leonard
- Alexander Kirkeby
- Arthur Vandergucht
- Lionel Jadot
- Kiko Lopez
- Monika Rościszewska
- Moreno Schweikle
- Nifemi Marcus-Bello
- Pao Hui Kao
- Rebecca Manson
- Richard Štipl
- Seongil Choi
- Sophie Buhai
- Takuro Kuwata
- Tony Cragg
- Václav Cigler
- Vladimir Slavov
- Wendy Andreu
- Xavier Mañosa
- Adeline Halot
- Armand Louis
- Bruno Amadi
- Bruno Barbon
- Chris Fusaro
- Ettore Sottsass
- Isaac Monté
- Joris Laarman
- Joseph Arzoumanov
- Joyce J Scott
- Julien d'Ys
- Hyeokjin Jung
- Katsuyo Aoki
- Lilla Tabasso
- Lisa Immordino Vreeland
- Odile Gilbert
- Fabio Petri
- Matteo de Mayda
- Patrick Vangheluwe
- Jurgen Sailer
- Sabrina Transiskus
- Julien d’Ys
- Ayham Hassam
- Jacopo Guarana
- Peter Lindbergh
- Michaela Bercu
- Anna Wintour
- Codognato
- Dries van Noten
- Audrey Guimard
- Joseph Arzoumanov-Dhedin
- Isaac Monté
- Chiara Pisani
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Prince Myshkin
- Camilla Glorioso
- Pierre Marie Giraud
- Cyril Bardy
- Monica Monté
- Vito Ancona
Institutions
- Fondazione Dries Van Noten
- Palazzo Pisani Moretta
- Comme des Garçons
- Christian Lacroix
- STL group
- Friedman Benda
- David Zwirner
- Galerie Eva Presenhuber
- Side Gallery
- Uppercut
- Objects With Narratives
- Spazio Nobile
- Goya Contemporary Gallery
- Galleria Caterina Tognon
- Axel Vervoordt Gallery
- Josh Lilley
- Steinhauser Gallery
- Pierre Marie Giraud Gallery
- Galerie Anne Sophie Duval
- Fondazione Berengo
- Art : Concept
- Torsello Architettura
- marionanni studio
- Uni.S.Ve.
- Marsilio Arte
- designboom
- Dries Van Noten Fondazione
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs
- Bergdorf Goodman
- US Vogue
- Tessitura Bevilacqua
- Dries van Noten Foundation
- GC Agency
- Foundation Azzedine Alaïa
- Juliet Art Magazine
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Grand Canal
- Palazzo Pisani Moretta
- Paris
- New York
- Ramallah
- Palestine
- San Polo