Florence Biennale - International Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Design

The Florence Biennale is the major contemporary art exhibition in Florence (Italy), where it is regarded as an outstanding showcase of the international contemporary art production. Every two years the Florence Biennale enlivens the Medicean city with a programme of collateral events such as conferences, displays, performances, workshops and lectures. Unveiling this year in a dedicated space at the Fortezza da Basso, in the Spadolini pavilion, is the Design exhibition to be held within the framework of the XIIth Florence Biennale, scheduled from 18 to 27 October 2019, and as usual showcasing works by contemporary artists from around the world. The forthcoming edition, themed ‘ARS ET INGENIUM. Toward Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy of Similitude and Invention’, will thus shed light on art and design as two separate yet conjoining spheres of creativity. The outstanding personalities receiving the Lorenzo il Magnifico lifetime achievement awards for the arts, namely Franco Zeffirelli, the sculptor Gustavo Aceves, and the media artist Refik Anadol have already been disclosed, along with the recipients of the special lifetime achievement awards from the President, Anthony Howe and Mice Jankulovski. At this stage, the Florence Biennale steering committee is delighted to announce that the Leonardo da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Awards for Design will be bestowed to two internationally acclaimed talents who have excelled outstandingly in the design domains. One of them is Paula Scher, principal of the Pentagram studio in New York specialising in communication and graphic design. The other is Elsa Peretti, fashion and jewellery designer with Tiffany & Co. Furthermore, the Leonardo da Vinci Award for Design will be bestowed to Wanda and Salvatore Ferragamo in memoriam.