The Tamesis
Photo: German Larkin
The art world has declined All Make a traditional Biennale pilgrimage to Serenissima, eager to take in the latest artistic sensibilities and equally heroic parts of the season Baccarat mantecato. This year’s exhibition, In a minor key, Marked by the untimely death of curator Koyo Kouoh, the exhibition unfolds on a more somber tone. In her absence, her circle of collaborators continued to advance the vision.
Echoing the unease and turmoil in today’s world, the wider atmosphere is not entirely calm, with controversy swirling like lagoon tides, sparking no shortage of heated debate. However, a spirit of openness and hope managed to take hold. Nowhere was this more apparent than at the Chanel Next Awards dinner on Wednesday night. A glittering ticket to the opening day of the Biennale, art indicative of the prevailing mood of the day, and a stellar guest list filled with art cream of cream People in the art world may still have the final say.
Hosted by Yana Peel, President of Chanel Arts, Culture and Heritage, the dinner was held to honor the winners of Chanel’s next Grand Prix in 2026: ten young artists who have boldly redrawn the boundaries of their respective disciplines, each receiving a rather convincing vote of confidence of €100,000.
The evening took place at Palazzo Giustinian Brandolini, the family residence of Marcantonio Brandolini, collector, artist and all-around Renaissance guru, who is also the creative force behind Laguna-B; a glass house famous for its delightfully whimsical hand-blown creations. For this year’s next award, Brandolini turned to designing the actual prizes presented to each winner. His stained glass pieces and interesting traditional Murano miniatures and statues are displayed alongside magnificent family heirlooms, while artful floral forms add a delicate touch to the setting.
Peele’s toast was filled with joy, celebrating the irrepressible energy of the next Grand Prix winner, the Biennale’s impressive global turnout, and, perhaps most importantly, the tenacious and necessary hope that art can sustain even as the world descends into chaos. “The ten winners come from ten countries, and this year’s Biennale has a record 99 pavilions,” she said. “It is a real pleasure to see friends from so many places gathered here tonight, a testament to the impact and enduring relevance of art.”
