Laurent Asscher Opens AMA Venezia, a New Independent Art Space in Cannaregio

Belgian-born entrepreneur and collector Laurent Asscher is opening AMA Venezia, an independent exhibition space in Venice's Cannaregio district, on April 9, 2025. The venue, named after his three children, is housed in a former soap factory restored by TA Torsello Architettura. Asscher began collecting in 2012 with the purchase of Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Irony of a Negro Policeman" (1981). The inaugural exhibition juxtaposes intimate painting by artists like Elizabeth Peyton and Mohammed Sami with AI and digital works by Refik Anadol, alongside Jordan Wolfson's "Female Figure." Asscher emphasizes sharing art publicly, following the tradition of Peggy Guggenheim, François Pinault, and Miuccia Prada. The space will host talks during the next Biennale but remains primarily an exhibition venue without a structured residency program.