Are you an art, architecture, and design enthusiast looking for things to do in Vicenza, Italy? If so, there is a place that is sure to capture your heart in Montecchio Maggiore: Bisazza Foundation. This world-renowned center is a must-visit destination for all art lovers.
Are you ready to enter a surreal world, where you can marvel at the works of internationally acclaimed artists such as Tord Boontje, Aldo Cibic, Sandro Chia, Jaime Hayon, Arik Levy, and Alessandro Mendini? The Bisazza Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of culture, design, and contemporary art. Let’s discover this truly unique and inspiring environment.
A foundation born out of a love for art
Over sixty years, the Bisazza family has been a landmark in the world of mosaics. In 1956, Renato Bisazza founded a company specializing in producing mosaics for exterior building coverings. As the company evolved, the building that once housed production was repurposed to become the Bisazza Foundation in Vicenza, Italy. Architect Carlo Dal Bianco oversaw the transformation of the industrial building into clean and orderly environments that still preserve traces of the past. The concrete floors and remnants of old furnaces have been kept in view, while the walls have been transformed into glass windows that allow natural light to flood the tall building. This renovation created a unique and evocative exhibition environment that seamlessly combines the industrial history of the Bisazza family with contemporary culture and art.
The place where art, architecture and design meet
Bisazza Foundation in Vicenza is an essential destination for every art, design and architecture enthusiast. Founded in 2012, the Foundation is dedicated to promoting artistic culture and supporting research and innovation in the fields of architecture and design. As a private, nonprofit organization, it offers an unparalleled cultural experience through its 8,500-square-meter exhibition space, where visitors can admire works and installations by contemporary designers and architects who have given rise to new applications of mosaic over the past two decades.
The Bisazza Foundation stands out for its active collaboration with prestigious international institutions to host traveling exhibitions and design and architecture projects that have never before been presented in Italy. The Foundation also organizes temporary exhibitions, events, and workshops to promote artistic culture and foster the training of young artists and designers, confirming its role as an active player in the dissemination of contemporary culture and art.
The permanent collection
The Bisazza Foundation’s permanent collection consists of many works that were initially created for different purposes. For instance, Fabio Novembre’s Love Over All, a large heart sculpture, was designed for the 2003 Salon du Meuble in Paris, while Marcel Wanders’ Ante-Lope car was presented at 100% Design in London in 2004. In contrast, Mendini’s Proust Monumental Armchair was created for an exhibition on Italian design in Athens the following year. Other pieces, such as Sandro Chia’s Bagnanti Intelligenti and Novembre’s Godot, are one-off works made for single-brand stores. Nonetheless, each of these works represents a unique and valuable artistic heritage that the Bisazza Foundation has chosen to enhance and preserve.
The Bisazza Foundation takes great pride in the wide and varied range of works on display at its headquarters. The collection includes pieces that range from the minimalism of architects Pawson and Meier to more expressive creations such as Jaime Hayon’s Jet Set airplane and Studio Job’s enormous Silverware objects. These works are presented in two or three dimensions, with varying scales and proportions.
Most of the works on display at the Bisazza Foundation were conceived by architects, artists, and designers and are characterized by an extravagant and original aesthetic. However, there are also pieces with a functional, albeit unusual, purpose, such as Marcel Wanders’ Pebbles coffee tables and Patricia Urquiola’s By Side screen. In any case, the works on display represent a unique and eclectic collection that captures the attention and stimulates the imagination of visitors.
The Architecture Photography Collection
The Bisazza Foundation’s Architecture Photography Collection was created thanks to the deep passion for photography of Piero Bisazza, the Foundation’s President. The collection bears witness to the dialogue that exists between photographic art and architecture. By visiting the exhibition spaces, visitors have the opportunity to explore the works of prominent authors and gain a deeper understanding of the various ways in which contemporary architectural photography can be interpreted.
