Spring returns to Venice, bringing not only major exhibitions – such as those at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana – but also the much-anticipated Venice Gallery Weekend, now a regular fixture in the lagoon, scheduled this year from March 27 to 29. The participating galleries offer more than just a schedule of openings; it’s a project that invites visitors to navigate the city along less touristy paths, delving deeper into the local art fabric. The aim is not to see everything – which would be impossible – but to emphasize a more fragmented and daily dimension compared to the grand showcase of the Biennale: a reality composed of medium and small spaces, direct relationships, and often experimental programming.
The First Day of Venice Gallery Weekend
The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 27, with late afternoon inaugurations. At Ncontemporary & Alessandro Casciaro Venice, Insurgent Bodies will showcase a dialogue between Lisetta Carmi and Jürgen Klauke, two artists whose works explore the body as a field of tension and a site for identity construction. Concurrently, Patricia Low Contemporary will inaugurate Cables of Cobwebs, a group exhibition presenting diverse artistic sensitivities and languages.
Earlier in the day, from 4 PM to 8 PM, a visit to Marignana is recommended: the opening of Subsidere, a solo show by Stefano Cescon at Marignana Project, will also offer guided tours of the Senza Bandiere V.3.0. Divide et impera exhibition by the Opiemme collective (Marignana Arte). Although Galleria Alberta Pane is closed for renovation until May, gallerist Alberta Pane will, by appointment, open her private residence to display a selection of works from the gallery’s artists and her personal collection.
Saturday’s Program
Saturday, March 28, shifts to a more intimate pace, with fewer grand openings and more informal, almost domestic, moments that become an integral part of the Venice experience. The day might begin with an unexpected detour to Victoria Miro Venice for Paesaggi interiori (Inner Landscapes), a guided meditation by Margherita Vio, complementing the group exhibition Looking Outwards to Look Inwards (featuring Etel Adnan, Milton Avery, Ilse D’Hollander). This event aims to shift the focus from mere “visiting” to deeper perception and self-reflection. Immediately after, at 193 Gallery, the meeting with Yoann Estevenin will take on a distinctly local flavor: spritz and tramezzini served amidst the artworks of L’ora delle nuove storie (The Hour of New Stories), offering a relaxed setting often conducive to better conversations.
The morning continues with breakfast at Barbati Gallery, while La Galleria Dorothea van der Koelen hosts an aperitivo with artists for Forever fading, a project by Carolin Liebl and Nikolas Schmid-Pfähler within the Ways of Hope context. Midday, Galleria Michela Rizzo offers a light lunch with a guided tour alongside Ludovico Bomben for Una figura continua a cercarmi (A Figure Keeps Looking for Me).
In the afternoon, 10 & zero uno will host the catalog presentation for Manipolazione di origine controllata (Manipulation of Controlled Origin) by Roberto Amoroso, accompanied by a critical text by Carlo Sala. The day concludes in Murano, at Caterina Tognon Arte Contemporanea, with the opening of Paolo Martinuzzi, an exemplary adventure. Art brut in Murano in the 70s: a historical deep dive that shifts attention from immediate contemporary art to a lateral, yet decisive, chapter of the local scene.
And Finally… Sunday
Sunday, March 29, is set for extended opening hours and breakfasts, offering a perfect opportunity to catch up on any missed exhibitions and explore the city without the pressure of opening times. The morning will commence at Galerie Negropontes with breakfast served amidst the Reflections on Brancusi exhibition. Shortly after, Tommaso Calabro will host another breakfast, this time revolving around Ismaele Nones’s What we hold, what we lose, while IKONA VENEZIA keeps Filippo Romano’s Archivio naturale (Natural Archive) open until evening, ideal for an unhurried visit.
In parallel, Marina Bastianello Gallery will open Xilografie e un dipinto (Woodcuts and a Painting) by Rosanna Rossi to the public, and Beatrice Burati Anderson will host the premiere of Michael Anklin’s musical piece NIEMAND IST NORMAL, composed for Andrea Pinchi’s exhibition Da Vicino (From Close Up). Finally, at midday, the opening of Arcano 0 – THE FOOL / IL MATTO (Arcanum 0 – THE FOOL) is scheduled, complete with a tarot reading performance.
