Exhibition in Possagno: Carlo Scarpa and the Biennale
From June 22, 2025, the Gypsotheca Antonio Canova in Possagno presents a significant exhibition dedicated to the celebrated Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa, exploring his long-standing and multifaceted relationship with the Biennale di Venezia. Through an extraordinary selection of works of art, original drawings, Murano glass pieces, and archival materials, the exhibition reveals how Scarpa’s poetic sensibility transformed the world of architecture and exhibition design.
Ala Scarpa, Possagno, Museo Gyptheca Antonio Canova.
This comprehensive retrospective, curated by Mario Gemin and Orietta Lanzarini, runs until January 11, 2026, and sheds light on one of the lesser-known yet most influential aspects of Scarpa’s creative journey—his curatorial and architectural work within the context of one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions, the Biennale di Venezia. Scarpa collaborated with the Biennale for nearly four decades, from 1934 to 1972, playing a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of many of its art exhibitions.
Carlo Scarpa, Museo Canova.
Art, Space, and Vision: Scarpa Between Architecture and the Arts
Carlo Scarpa was not only an architect but also a visionary thinker who constantly blurred the boundaries between space, material, and artistic expression. This new exhibition in Possagno focuses on the dialogue between Scarpa’s architectural language and the world of works of art, placing special emphasis on his relationship with artists, curators, and the broader cultural scene that revolved around the Biennale di Venezia.
Structured into three thematic sections—The Artists, The Glassworks, and The Biennale—the exhibition offers a deep dive into the cultural and aesthetic references that nurtured Scarpa’s imagination and practice.
The first section, The Artists, presents a selection of drawings, paintings, and sculptures by some of the most significant figures in 20th-century art. These include Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Giorgio Morandi, Arturo Martini, Osvaldo Licini, Alberto Viani, and Mario De Luigi—artists whose work Scarpa admired, studied, or helped bring to public attention through his innovative exhibition designs. All the works of art on display come from the private collection of Luciano Gemin, a close collaborator and friend of Scarpa.
Carlo Scarpa, Canova Museum.
A Cultural Tribute to an Architect of Vision
Valerio Favero, Mayor of Possagno, expressed his pride in hosting the exhibition: “It is a true honor to welcome this remarkable cultural project, which highlights the deep bond between Carlo Scarpa and the Biennale di Venezia. His influence shaped nearly forty years of exhibition architecture in Venice and left a lasting legacy in the world of art and design.”
Massimo Zanetti, President of the Fondazione Canova Onlus, emphasized the importance of the exhibition in promoting the museum as a hub of creative exchange: “This exhibition honors not only Scarpa but also his disciple Luciano Gemin, a key figure in our institution’s history. Their shared vision continues to inspire our commitment to promoting art, architecture, and cultural heritage.”
Murano Glass and the Art of Form
The second section, The Glassworks, is dedicated to Scarpa’s collaboration with Murano glassmakers, a central chapter in his artistic development. Beginning in the 1920s with M.V.M. Cappellin and later continuing with the prestigious Venini glassworks, Scarpa developed a unique approach to glass design that combined technical precision with aesthetic experimentation.
The sculptures and glass pieces on display—about twenty in total—reflect Scarpa’s ability to transform a traditional craft into a modern art form. His Murano creations echo the visual languages of contemporary avant-gardes, while maintaining a strong connection to the ancient Venetian glassmaking tradition. These pieces show Scarpa’s genius in turning everyday materials into refined and experimental works of art.
Carlo Scarpa, «Decoro fenicio M.V.M. Cappellin C. Murano», 1928-29
The 1968 Biennale: Scarpa as Artist and Architect
The third and final section of the exhibition focuses on a landmark event in Scarpa’s career: his involvement in the 1968 Biennale di Venezia. Tasked with designing the layout for “Lines of Research: From Informal to New Structures”, Scarpa chose to include sculptures of his own, rather than architectural models or drawings. This bold decision marked a declaration of his identity not only as an architect but also as an artist.
These three sculptures, now part of the Gemin Collection, are showcased alongside previously unseen architectural sketches and documents that illustrate Scarpa’s intense creative process. The section also includes materials from his final Biennale project in 1972: Masterpieces of 20th Century Painting 1900–1945, which marked the end of his collaboration with the institution.
A Tribute to Luciano Gemin
This exhibition is not only a celebration of Carlo Scarpa but also a tribute to Luciano Gemin (1928–2023), architect, collector, and one of Scarpa’s most trusted collaborators. The entire display is drawn from Gemin’s private collection, and the exhibition pays homage to his lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting Scarpa’s legacy. He also envisioned the Gemin Wing of the Possagno museum, an extension originally designed by Scarpa himself in the 1950s.
According to co-curator Orietta Lanzarini, “This is the first time that the Museum of Possagno dedicates a major exhibition to Carlo Scarpa, not just as an architect, but as a multidimensional cultural figure. The show reveals his ability to think of space as a canvas, and of the museum as a dynamic place for dialogue between form, light, and works of art.”
Mario Gemin, son of Luciano and co-curator, adds: “For my father, the choice to leave the Academy of Fine Arts and study architecture—inspired by the painter Bruno Saetti—was transformative. It kept him close to the world of art. Thanks to Scarpa, our collection includes sculptures by Alberto Viani, experimental grattages by Mario Deluigi, and many pieces first presented at the Biennale di Venezia.”
Carlo Scarpa e Luciano Gemin ad Asolo
Public Programs and Restoration Projects
The exhibition is accompanied by a rich program of cultural events, including guided tours, family workshops, educational labs for schools, lectures, and dialogues with art historians and architects. During the exhibition period, restoration work will be carried out on one of Scarpa’s most iconic architectural features in Possagno: the “Cannocchiale,” a striking visual corridor that embodies his vision of layered space.
A comprehensive exhibition catalog, published in collaboration with SAGEP, includes essays by the curators as well as scholarly contributions by Moira Mascotto, Carla Sonego, and Elisabetta Barisoni.