Italian Artists at Venice Biennale 2026: A Guide to Independent Exhibitions

Despite controversy over the absence of Italian artists in the official Biennale Arte 2026, numerous Italian artists are presenting works in independent venues across Venice. The guide highlights key exhibitions: KUNSTHAUS PARADISO at Palazzo Molin Querini, curated by Caroline Corbetta and promoted by Venice International Foundation, featuring 50 artists who live and work in Venice; Marinella Senatore's 'We Rise by Lifting Others' at The Human Safety Net in Piazza San Marco, a participatory project with vulnerable families from Warsaw, Mestre, and Palermo; Maria Cristina Crespo's 'Infinito Cabinet' at Castello 2145, a collateral event curated by Giusy Caroppo and organized by Eclettica Cultura dell'Arte; Jacopo Di Cera's 'Ciclica' at the Sierra Leone Pavilion, curated by Rebecca Pedrazzi, a digital triptych on climate crisis; Marco Nereo Rotelli's light installation 'LA GUINEA PER PPP' at the Guinea Pavilion on San Servolo Island, visible during vernissage; Andrea Crespi's holographic work 'Thetis' at Fabbrica H3 on Giudecca, selected by One Ocean Foundation and ZEITGEIST19; and Martina Biolo's 'Apnea' at Deposito 2235, a space inaugurated in 2025. These projects reflect a shift from institutional recognition to autonomous, experimental trajectories, redefining Italian presence in Venice.