Biennale

XII Edition | 18 – 27 October 2019

Ars et Ingenium - Toward Leonardo da Vinci’s Legacy of Similitude and Invention 

2019 was the year of the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci, to whom the Florence Biennale dedicated the theme of its XII edition. This choice also became the pretext for introducing a new exhibition section for the design category.

517 artists from 77 countries

 289 designers from 33 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Gustavo Aceves • Refik Anadol • Franco Zeffirelli 

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” SPECIAL AWARD OF THE PRESIDENT

Anthony Howe • Mice Jankulovski • Han Yuchen 

“LEONARDO DA VINCI” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Salvatore e Wanda Ferragamo • Elsa Peretti • Paula Scher 

XI Edition | 6 – 15 October 2017

eARTh - Creativity & Sustainability 

The 11th Florence Biennale aimed at contributing to envision a future in which creativity and sustainability are inspiring principles of an artistic and cultural ‘ecosystem’ within a world that is respectful of nature and life forms on Earth.

499 artists from 70 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sauro Cavallini (in memoriam) • El Anatsui • Arata Isozaki 

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” SPECIAL AWARD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Tim Bengel

X Edition | 17 – 25 October  2015

ART & THE POLIS 

The “new-entries” categories: Textile & Fiber Art, Ceramics and Jewellery.

423 artists from 62 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Mario Carbone • Marta Minujín • Giampaolo Talani 

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” SPECIAL AWARD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Morehshin Allahyari

IX Edition | 30 November - 8 December 2013

ETHICS: DNA OF ART

The Florence Biennale introduced the Charter of the Artist of the New Millenium presented during the XXXIII World Congress of UNESCO Centers held at Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence.

365 artists from 54 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Anish Kapoor • Franco Mussida • Henryk Jurkowski 

VIII Edition | 3 – 11 December 2011

Maggio Danza staged Selon Desir by Andonis Foniadakis, with a solo piece by the principal dancer Sabrina Vitangeli. She weared a couture gown that has been designed for her by Agatha Ruiz de La Prada. Choreography by Francesco Ventriglia.

513 artists from 60 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

José Luis Cuevas • Agatha Ruiz de La Prada

VII Edition | 5 – 13 December 2009

Marina Abramović reads out for the first time her Manifesto.

650 artists from 78 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Marina Abramović • Shu Yong

VI Edition | 1 – 9 December 2007

The Florence Biennale received from the actress Anne Archer the “Artists for Human Rights” Award for the commitment to cross-cultural dialogue.

830 artists from 72 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Anne Archer • Gilbert & George

V Edition | 3 – 11 December 2005

Close collaboration with the Triennial of India, New Dehli.

Close collaboration with the Turku Biennial, Finland.

767 artistsfrom 73 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Richard Anuszkiewicz • Christo and Jeanne-Claude • Harley-Davidson • TOROC

IV Edition | 6 – 14 December 2003

891 artists from 72 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ferrari & Pininfarina • David Hockney • Restoration Laboratories of the Vatican Museums

III Edition | 7 – 16 December 2001

The Florence Biennale was the first exhibition in which artists from different countries expressed their thoughts and feelings about the tragic events of 11 September 2001.

The Florence Biennale joins the “United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilization” programme.

625 artists from 52 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Chen Cheng-Hsiung • H.R.H. Charles Prince of Wales

II Edition | 3 – 12 December 1999

Marta Marzotto is the host of the opening ceremony.

520 artists from 31 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Mario Luzi

I Edition | 6 – 14 December 1997

Pasquale and Piero Celona founded the International Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Florence (Florence Biennale). Artists from around the world came to Florence and gave breath of life to a multicultural and multidisciplinary event.

317 artists from 17 countries

“LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Carla Fracci • Dolorès Puthod • Ferruccio Soleri