A Timeless Dialogue Between Fortuny and Minassian in Venice

Timeless Interiors Unfold in Fortuny’s Historic Venetian Villa

In Venice, where history, creativity, and light converge, a unique design encounter unfolds—one that bridges a century through artworks, craftsmanship, and timeless home decor. On the quiet island of Giudecca, within a villa surrounded by a lush secret garden, two creative minds—Mariano Fortuny and Chahan Minassian—meet in spirit and vision. Though separated by decades, they share a passion for Venetian design, global influences, and the transformative power of textiles and spaces.

This intimate and immersive exhibition takes place inside Palazzina Fortuny, adjacent to the iconic Fortuny textile factory. Open by appointment during the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the villa is both a living showroom and a curated experience, showcasing Fortuny fabrics, Minassian’s interior compositions, and rare artworks—all seamlessly blended to evoke a harmonious dialogue between past and present.

Two Creatives, One Love for Venice

Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo (1871–1949), born in Granada, and Chahan Minassian (born in 1961 in Beirut), share a strikingly parallel creative journey. Both were raised in cosmopolitan environments—Fortuny in a family of artists and intellectuals, Minassian in Paris after studying in California—and both were drawn to eclectic cultural references, particularly from the East.

Fortuny was a polymath: a painter, inventor, fashion designer, and textile innovator. He was fascinated by historical patterns, from Persian motifs to Spanish baroque, which he translated into printed fabrics using proprietary methods still kept secret today. Minassian, an interior designer and gallerist, is known for his sculptural approach to space, his love for Mid-Century furniture, and his refined eye for collectible artworks.

Most of all, both men fell in love with Venice. Fortuny moved to the city as a young man after his father’s death and transformed Palazzo Pesaro degli Orfei into his studio and home. He later established his textile factory on Giudecca with his wife Henriette Negrin. Today, Minassian visits Venice frequently, drawing inspiration from its light, surfaces, and architectural rhythms.

A Home for Art and Design: Inside Palazzina Fortuny

Set across three floors and surrounded by greenery, Palazzina Fortuny was once the home of American decorator Elsie McNeill Lee, Fortuny’s exclusive representative in the United States. Later known as Countess Gozzi, she inherited the business after Fortuny’s passing and preserved his legacy in both product and spirit.

Now, during the Venice Architecture Biennale, the villa becomes a living environment where interior design and artworks coexist with Fortuny fabrics. The layout maintains the feeling of a private home—complete with kitchen, bedrooms, and salons—creating a warm and personal atmosphere where design is lived, not just displayed.

Chahan Minassian has reimagined these spaces with a touch that is both elegant and bold. He mixes Fortuny’s textiles—including the new Armonia collection he co-designed with creative director Mickey Riad—with unique furniture, collectible glass objects, sculptural lighting, and rare artworks. The setting evokes the atmosphere of Minassian’s Paris gallery, where every item, even here, is for sale.

The result is a sensual, layered interior that reflects a shared obsession for form, texture, and composition—a space where home decor becomes storytelling.

The Legacy of Mariano Fortuny: Innovation and Craft

The adjacent Fortuny factory, in continuous operation since 1919, is a testament to Fortuny’s genius. He purchased the building from Giancarlo Stucky and transformed it into a laboratory of interior design experimentation. His mission? Elevate a humble material—cotton—through refined, intellectual decoration inspired by a fusion of cultures.

The result was revolutionary: richly printed fabrics combining East and West, ancient and modern. From Persian pomegranate symbols to Renaissance flourishes, Fortuny’s textiles became essential to elegant home decor in Europe and America. Admirers included Proust—who referenced Fortuny in In Search of Lost Time—and the stars of early Hollywood.

Before venturing into textile production, Fortuny had already patented over 20 inventions, including theatrical lighting systems and scenic equipment. He also made history in fashion with the Delphos gown—a pleated silk dress accented with Murano beads, worn by Isadora Duncan and Eleonora Duse. Designed to fold into a small box, the Delphos was both practical and poetic.

Venice: A Living Moodboard for Creative Minds

For Minassian, Venice is more than a source of aesthetic pleasure—it’s an active participant in the creative process. As British author A.S. Byatt described in Peacock & Vine, Venice is “aquamarine, ethereal,” and its beauty plays on “the dark, moving surfaces of the canals.”

“I’ve been spending part of the year here for over seven years,” says Minassian. “Walking through the city, you’re constantly exposed to surfaces, patterns, and colors shaped by time. It’s not a manual; it’s a living, breathing book. The inspiration comes naturally, without force.”

This sensitivity to place, to light, and to history makes Venice the perfect setting for this unique exhibition—an homage not only to two creators, but to a city that continues to inspire some of the world’s most extraordinary artworks and designs.

Experience the Dialogue Between Past and Present

Visitors are welcome to explore the Palazzina Fortuny during the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 by appointment. Immerse yourself in a refined world of artworks, interior design, and luxurious home decor that honors the spirit of Venice and the legacy of Mariano Fortuny.