SMAC Opens in Venice as a Hub for Contemporary Art and Culture
Procuratie vecchie, Piazza San Marco, Venice. Photo Mike Merkenschlager
Art Exhibition takes center stage as Venice, a city steeped in centuries of artistic legacy, welcomes a dynamic new space dedicated to contemporary art, architecture, design, and visual arts. Nestled in the heart of Piazza San Marco, the historic Procuratie Vecchie will now house the SMAC – San Marco Art Center, a visionary project poised to enrich the cultural fabric of the city.
The launch of this new contemporary art center is the culmination of an ambitious restoration led by David Chipperfield Architects Milan. Their sensitive renovation of the Procuratie Vecchie has transformed the building’s interiors while preserving its architectural heritage, breathing new life into one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks.
SMAC – San Marco Art Center: A New Chapter for Visual Arts in Venice
Opening its doors on May 9, SMAC – San Marco Art Center will occupy the entire second floor of the Procuratie Vecchie. As a result, it brings over 80 meters of exhibition space into the service of contemporary visual arts. Specifically, the space comprises 16 luminous gallery rooms, each framed by the light streaming through over 50 windows overlooking the heart of Venice. Furthermore, the entry, via the secluded Corte Maruzzi, leads visitors through a majestic stairway to the exhibition floor, thereby setting the tone for a refined cultural experience.
This contemporary venue is spearheaded by directors Anna Bursaux, David Gramazio, and David Hrankovic. Together, they aim to challenge conventional models of museum curation and management. As they explain, “SMAC fills a gap in Venice’s rich cultural landscape.” Specifically, “We focus on work that reveals the unexpected, that questions norms, and sparks rigorous dialogue in the fields of contemporary art, architecture, and design.”
SMAC San Marco Art Centre rooms. Photo Adriano Mura
The Restoration: Merging Architectural Heritage and Contemporary Design
The transformation of the Procuratie Vecchie has been executed with a profound respect for Venice’s architectural identity. The interiors feature walls clad in light gray Venetian marmorino, a traditional material made from crushed marble, and elegant white terrazzo flooring. Historical details have been lovingly restored, while modern touches reflect the building’s new role as a center for contemporary culture.
Two Napoleon-era frescoed rooms will serve as event spaces accompanying each exhibition, blending historic ambiance with modern art and design.
Inaugural Exhibitions: Architecture, Nature, and Global Dialogue
The opening program at SMAC features two exhibitions that highlight the convergence of architecture, visual art, and landscape design.
Migrating Modernism: The Architecture of Harry Seidler
The first show, Migrating Modernism , explores the legacy of Harry Seidler, the Vienna-born, Australian architect known for his modernist vision and interdisciplinary collaborations. Curated by Ann Stephen and Paolo Stracchi of the University of Sydney, in partnership with the Chau Chak Wing Museum, the exhibition delves into Seidler’s transnational practice and the artists who shaped his work.
On display are works by Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, Lin Utzon, and Sol LeWitt. In addition, there are collaborations with the renowned structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi. Moreover, this exhibition underscores the deep ties between modern architecture and the visual arts, which is a defining feature of Seidler’s oeuvre.
Australia Square, Sydney, Australia. Architetto Harry Seidler. Foto Max Dupain, 1968 © Penelope Seidler
For All That Breathes On Earth:
Jung Youngsun and Collaborators
Running concurrently is a powerful exhibition on Jung Youngsun, a pioneering South Korean landscape architect. Titled For All That Breathes On Earth, the show is co-produced with Seoul’s MMCA – National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and curated by Jihoi Lee. It traces Youngsun’s career from her early environmental activism to major public commissions like the Seoul Olympic Parks and Incheon International Airport.
This immersive exhibit explores the interplay between nature, architecture, and human resilience, illustrating how landscape design can shape societies and promote sustainable coexistence. Supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, this show commemorates 140 years of cultural exchange between Korea and Italy.
Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park, 2023. Photo Jung Jihyun
Venice Biennale Forum: Exploring the Future of Architecture and Design
Adding to the vibrancy of the opening week, SMAC will host the event The World Around On Site: Venice Biennale 2025 on May 8. In partnership with the global platform The World Around, this forum will spotlight trailblazing voices in contemporary architecture and design.
The one-day symposium, held at The Home of The Human Safety Net auditorium on the third floor, will gather architects, artists, designers, and technologists to discuss how creative practices can respond to the global challenges of our time.
Upcoming Exhibitions: Science, Philosophy, and Pop Culture
Looking ahead to autumn 2025, SMAC will present The Quantum Effect, a groundbreaking exhibition co-curated by Daniel Birnbaum and Jacqui Davies. This multidisciplinary show bridges science, art, cinema, architecture, and philosophy, offering a deep dive into quantum paradoxes and their cultural manifestations.
From science fiction to pop music, video games, and fashion, The Quantum Effect promises to blur boundaries and invite visitors to reflect on the unseen dimensions of reality—through the lens of contemporary visual art and design.
SMAC San Marco Art Centre rooms
A Vision for Experimental and Inclusive Cultural Spaces
As a bold addition to Venice’s artistic scene, SMAC – San Marco Art Center therefore signals a new direction for contemporary visual arts. Moreover, operating as an independent and experimental organization, SMAC actively invites collaboration with institutions, artists, and thinkers from around the world.
Its mission goes beyond exhibition-making: it aspires to act as a catalyst for cultural dialogue, creativity, and transformation. With a keen focus on architecture, design, and visual arts, SMAC is poised to become a vital player in the evolving global discourse on the future of culture.
Whether you’re an art lover, an architecture enthusiast, or a design professional, the opening of SMAC in Piazza San Marco is a must-see milestone in the global contemporary art scene—and a compelling reason to revisit Venice.