XV EDITION 2025

Light and Darkness

Held at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence from 18 to 26 October 2025, the XV edition of the Florence Biennale explored the theme "The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness. Concepts of Dualism and Unity in Contemporary Art and Design." Conceived by curator Dr. Giovanni Cordoni, the theme highlighted the primordial and eternal union between light and darkness — an interplay that has long stood at the centre of artistic, scientific, philosophical, and literary inquiry. Rooted in the need to understand what appears to be opposing forces but in fact belongs to a single, unified system, the theme encouraged participants to delve into the emotional awareness of nature's infinite and irresistible power — a dimension in which opposites naturally intertwine.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

In its XV edition, the Florence Biennale awarded the International "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Lifetime Achievement Award for Art to the world-renowned American filmmaker and artist Tim Burton. As stated by the General Director Jacopo Celona, "The prize is the Florence Biennale's tribute to one of the most important artists of our times, and a recognition of his outstanding artistic work, including drawing, graphic design, stop motion animation and film making. Through his work, Tim Burton revolutionised the perspective that sees darkness as a symbol of evil, bringing out a new concept of beauty through magical and poetic visions..."

Curated by Tim Burton in collaboration with the Florence Biennale, the exhibition "Tim Burton: Light and Darkness" was presented at the Spadolini Pavilion. Visitors were invited to explore over 80 works from Burton's personal archive, displayed across five thematic rooms. The exhibition showcased a selection of paintings, sketchbooks, sculptures, installations, projections, and photographs—including never-before-seen pieces.

On the other hand, the International "Leonardo da Vinci" Lifetime Achievement Award for Design was conferred upon Patricia Urquiola, the internationally acclaimed Spanish architect, designer, and Art Director of Cassina. Throughout her career, Urquiola has made a profound impact on the landscape of contemporary design, carrying forward the legacy of her mentor, Achille Castiglioni. Her work is characterised by soft, organic forms, sensorial materials, and a strong commitment to sustainability, with the aim of enhancing everyday life while maintaining deep respect for nature.

Alongside the award ceremony, Urquiola presented the exhibition "Transitions" at the Cavaniglia Pavilion. Conceived as an installation that embodies the core of her design methodology, "Transitions" weaves together innovation, emotion, and material experimentation. The exhibition featured design works created in collaboration with over ten international design brands, including Cassina's Mon-Cloud Armchair, Mutina's Mater, Maoros's The Gruuvelot, Agape's Vieques bathtub, and Glas Italia's Babar table, among many others.

Lifetime Achievement Awards from the President

In the XV edition, British sculptress Emily Young and Chinese artist Chao Ge were awarded the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Lifetime Achievement Awards from the President.

Emily Young, acclaimed by the Financial Times as "Britain's Greatest Living Stone Sculptor". Her sculptures—which could endure for millions of years—explore the dualism of interrelationship and alienation between human civilisation and nature—a duality that reminds us of our origins and our impact on the environment. At this year's Florence Biennale, her sculptures The Sun King Dreams of Peace and Sunset Planet / Sky River were displayed in front of the main entrances of two exhibition halls, welcoming the artists and visitors from around the world.

Chao Ge, another recipient of the award, emerged by the early 1990s as a recognised practitioner and leading figure in China's spiritual painting tradition. His art embodies the poetic beauty nurtured by the vast landscapes of the East, while also touching upon the hardships, spiritual confusion, and human suffering of the 20th century. In an era of artistic atmosphere filled with entertainment-driven restlessness, noise, and venting, his creations have preserved a rare seriouseness of spirit.

Other Guests of Honour

Gabriel Isak, a Swedish photographer, is one of this year's Guests of Honour. His work was selected as the key visual for this edition and is displayed in several public spaces across multiple cities. His art present surreal and melancholic scenes, focusing on themes inspired by human psychology, dreams, and romanticism, as well as his personal experiences.

Another Guest of Honour is Japanese artist Liku Maria Takahashi, who participated in the 2019 Florence Biennale as Guest of Honour and received the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Award from the President. Her work explores the interplay of light, shadow, and darkness as inseperable dimensions of human experience. Takahashi blends traditional Japanese aesthetic with global humanistic concerns, addressing mortality, empathy, collective consciosuness and the balance between individuality and unity.

Other recipients included Italian artist Andrea Prandi, who presented his project "Life >< Line", a body of work comprising sculptures, digital art, video art, and installations characterised by his signature labyrinth lines; and Chilean designer Nicole Albagli Iruretagoyena, winner of the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Jewellery Award from the President at Cluster Contemporary Jewellery (London, UK, 2024), recognised for the originality of her jewellery and its exploration of the interplay between nature and industry.

Special Projects and other presences

At the XV Florence Biennale, screenings were a major component of the Special Projects, featuring works such as "Die Höhenluft - Für Alle und Keinen" (Pure Air of the Mountain — For All and No One) by Mika'Ela Fisher, "Tango en Penumbras" (Tango in the Shadows) by Teresa Mular, "The Sacred Art Movement" by Olusola Otori, "Near Light" by Niccolò Salvato, and "Playing God" by Matteo Burani, who was also honoured with the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Award from the President. Several of these works were presented as national premieres.

In line with this edition's theme, UNICEF Italy presented their project "Milk Teeth", a short film portraying the inner conflict of Afghan girls, torn between opposing forces during the delicate transition from childhood to early adolescence. Additionally, Art Comes Before, an online gallery dedicated to contemporary photography, made its debut at the Florence Biennale with the exhibition "Dialoghi" (Dialogues), presented in collaboration with Lory Digital Fine Art, a Florentine workshop specialising in fine art printing.

Dopo la performance interattiva presentata nell'edizione precedente, il musicista e artista multimedia Sergio Maltagliati è tornato con "Omaggio a John Cage", un progetto che rende omaggio al maestro del silenzio e della libertà creativa. Mettendo il dialogo solenzio e suono, individuo e comunità, memoria e tecnologia, l'opera ha coinvolto attivamente il pubblico attraverso strumenti digitali interattivi, rinnovando l'eredità di Cage come pratica partecipativa piuttosto che come citazione nostalgica.

Following his interactive performance at the previous edition, multimedia artist and composer Sergio Maltagliati returned with "Tribute to John Cage", a project honouring the master of silence and creative freedom. Bridging silence and sound, individuality and community, memory and technology, the work invited the audience to actively participate through interactive digital tools, renewing Cage's legacy as a participatory practice rather than a nostalgic reference.

Educational Partners

During the Florence Biennale 2023, Iranian artists Partin Bastan and Marjan Najafi sculpted a clay portrait of Masha Amini, the young Iranian woman whose death sparked the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. In 2024, with the patronage and support of the Region of Tuscany, Florence Biennale collaborated with the Liceo Artistico di Porta Romana to produce a full-scale plaster model and a latex mould for its bronze casting. Inaugurated on 17 February 2025, the sculpture will be permanently installed at Palazzo Guadagni Strozzi in Florence.

This year, students and teachers from the school's painting and sculpture departments participated in the Florence Biennale, presenting studio practices that highlights the school's commitment to dialogue between education, society, and the international art community.

As part of the educational project, the University of Siena presented the exhibition "Florent in Auro. Jewels for the Golden Rose of Pius II" curated by Prof. Paolo Torriti of the Department History, Design and Marketing of Jewellery. Inspired by the theme, students developed original projects from sketches to prototypes, later realised in cooperation with jewellery companies and workshops. Meanwhile, students from the Degree Course in Engineering for Industrial Design at the University of Pisa presented "Art Direction: Gumdesign". Supervised by Gabriele Goretti and Gumdesign, the students developed 12 collections crafted from marble and other materials, adopting an experimental approach to structural behaviours and the responses of raw matter to various treatments.

Other educational partners included Pneuma Art Foundation and LABA (Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze). Pneuma Art Foundation, an international non-profit dedicated to fostering dialogue between classical heritage and contemporary creation, presented 12 emerging and established artists whose work explore the sublime dualities of human experience. While students from the LABA's Design Department took part in the creation of UnityBeak, an installation by artist Facundo Yebne.

"L ight and Shadow Workshops" presented by Laura Izzi, Chiara Nannini, and Lara Negri, on the other hand, were aimed at children. Held three times during the event, the workshops combined contemporary art, play, and scientific exploration through stories and hands-on activities to nurture children's imagination and artistic expression.

The conferences and other talks

The XV Florence Biennale featured a diverse programme of talks and conferences. Gregorio Luke, a member of the International Jury and lecturer at the Florence Biennale for 20 years, presented two lectures on Rembrandt and David Alfaro Siqueiros. On the other hand, talk by Dr. Irene Sanesi, Alejandra Castro Rioseco, and Echo Labs da CNR ISPC, highlighted the often unseen but essential systems—whether funding, collecting, or logistics—that sustain, shape, and give life to the contemporary art world.

During Design Days (22-23 October), over 20 distinguished designers and architects presented a series of talks exploring process, innovation, and tradition in the design world. Notably, Patricia Urquiola, recipient of the "Leonardo da Vinci" Lifetime Achievement Award for Design, engaged in a conversation with Silvia Robertazzi, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire Maison, offering insights and reflections on the visions and milestones of her international career.

The Winners' Exhibition

Following the 2021 and 2023 editions, the Winners' Exhibition of the 2025 Florence Biennale was once again held at the Exhibition Hall of the Academy of the Arts of Drawing (Accademia delle Arti del Disegno) in Florence, from January 10 to February 26, 2026. Hosted at the world's oldest art academy, the exhibition showcased artworks of 15 award-winning artists of the XV Florence Biennale, alongside special contributions by this edition's Guests of Honour, including Gabriel Isak, Andrea Prandi, Emily Young, and Liku Maria Takahashi.