Italy Pavilion at the 2026 Biennale: Buttafuoco Unveils 'An Intimate

Italy Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale: concept and aims

On May 8, 2026 Pietrangelo Buttafuoco presented the curatorial vision for the Italy Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. The core intent is to convey "an intimate and universal message", placing individual stories in continuous dialogue with collective themes.

The exhibition project

The proposal focuses on works and languages able to express the complexity of human experience: dreams, fears and desires become the material for a shared fresco. The aim is to foreground personal dimension while retaining the capacity of art to address diverse audiences.

Selection and audience

Artists will be chosen through a selective process aimed at representing the plurality of Italian artistic practice, with attention to emerging generations and the exchange between different perspectives. Balancing memory and innovation remains central to the Pavilion's approach.

Venue and significance

The Italy Pavilion will be hosted in the Arsenale spaces, an environment that contributes symbolic value to the project thanks to its history and role within the Biennale route. The Pavilion remains a key reference point for national and international art scenes.

What to expect

• An installation strategy centered on a plurality of voices and viewpoints.
• Works and installations designed to create a conversation between private experience and collective reflection.
• A focus on young artists and diverse audiences.

This edition of the Italy Pavilion aims to act as a bridge between individual and community, using the power of artistic language to turn personal stories into shared reflections.