Treccani Launches World's First Encyclopedia of Contemporary Art at Venice Biennale

Treccani has unveiled the Enciclopedia italiana dell'arte contemporanea internazionale, the first encyclopedia of contemporary art worldwide, at the Venice Biennale. Directed by Vincenzo Trione and Valeria della Valle, the four-volume illustrated work contains over 3,600 entries across approximately 800 pages each, totaling more than 3,200 pages. The project, first announced in 2017, involved 435 authors including leading art historians, critics, philosophers, and writers such as Emanuele Trevi, Melania Mazzucco, Maurizio Ferraris, and Stefano Bartezzaghi. Four international artists with surnames starting with 'K'—Anselm Kiefer (Europe), Joseph Kosuth (America), William Kentridge (Africa), and Anish Kapoor (Asia)—each created a dedicated work representing their continent. Shirin Neshat contributed a special portfolio introducing the first volume. The encyclopedia aims to move beyond Eurocentric and Western-centric narratives, covering artistic excellence from Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Latin America. It also includes figures beyond artists, such as gallerists, curators, critics, and art advisors, and explores intersections with fashion, photography, cinema, and design. Trione emphasized the work's independence despite pressures from artists' heirs, and noted the inclusion of thematic categories like Pop art examined comparatively across countries. The encyclopedia is positioned as a authoritative alternative to Wikipedia, with verified entries.