Current Newsletter
May News
Spring greetings! I hope this finds you and your loved ones well. I am writing from the Venice Biennale, where I have been looking at art non-stop for two weeks. I am grateful for this opportunity to be amazed, inspired, and blown away by the poignant and urgent issues presented in the work here. Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is the largest and oldest world-wide gathering of artists and exhibitions and attracts half a million visitors. The Biennale hosts up to 90 countries in historic pavilions scattered across the city, a major group exhibition, and a number of private gallery shows. Below are some of my favorites:
Simone Leigh (USA pavilion) Leigh won the Golden Lion for her monumental sculpture Brick House, which greets visitors in the opening gallery of the central exhibition in the Arsenale. Leigh transformed the US Pavilion!
https://youtu.be/yhm1nt2Yde0
Anselm Kiefer at Palazzo Ducale Kiefer’s installation is a contemporary masterpiece in dialogue with the past, present and future.
https://youtu.be/NREbmVa4zvI
Anish Kapoor presented his exhibition, Venice in Vantablack (the world’s blackest black color), at Accademia, highlighting the most amazing pieces. And his Sympohony for a Beloved Sun at Palazoo Manfrin was also as striking with large, blood-colored sculpture.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/apr/21/anish-kapoor-venice-exhibitions-vantablack
Visit - Mosaici Donà Murano
I am very proud to have Mosaici Dona’ Murano’s traditional Venetian Smalti Glass in my two mosaics Bon Voyage! and Happy Travels! that are in the permanent collection at Minneapolis St Paul International Airport. It was amazing to see the furnaces and learn about the incredible family and process. Stefano Donà, the owner, combines the experience in glass production of the Donà’s family with his technical and artistic knowledge in chemical and architecture. I love my team @mosaicidonamurano_official @travisanuttomosaics @miottomosaics.
I Love You Institute's Hope
My project Hope is a nomadic, artist-led initiative pop-up at the Venice Biennale 2022. Meandering throughout the city, I handed out small packets of Hope pins and stickers. Hope is a considered, serious response to the contemporary condition and an act of resistance. The project aims to propagate hope in contemporary art with connection, empathy, love and creativity that can be a tool for re-examining ourselves and our world.