The 15th Florence Biennale at the Fortezza da Basso
From October 18 to 26, the international contemporary art and design exhibition returns to Florence. Special guests Tim Burton and Patricia Urquiola.
From October 18 to 26, 2025, the XV Florence Biennale returns to the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, the major international exhibition dedicated to contemporary art and design, which this year explores the theme “The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness.”
The theme for 2025: the sublime between light and darkness
The Florence Biennale 2025 invites us to reflect on the eternal dualism between light and darkness, interpreted in a contemporary key through visual arts, design, and creativity. The concept of “sublime” is addressed not only as an aesthetic pursuit, but also as a tool for investigating the major social, ecological, and political issues of our time. Art thus confirms itself as a universal language for understanding and questioning reality.
With 11,000 square meters of exhibition space, 550 artists and designers from 85 countries and 5 continents, and over 1,500 works on display, the Florence Biennale confirms its status as one of the most important contemporary art events in Italy and worldwide.
Tim Burton to be featured at the Florence Biennale 2025
The most eagerly awaited guest at this year's event is Tim Burton, the undisputed master of dualism between light and darkness, irony and melancholy, dreams and nightmares. The visionary director and artist will be celebrated with an exclusive exhibition entitled Tim Burton: Light and Darkness, conceived by the author himself. The exhibition includes 50 works distributed across five themed rooms, with an immersive installation and a precious collection of drawings, notebooks, and albums personally selected by Burton. During the event, Burton will receive the Lorenzo il Magnifico Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday, October 21, at 5:00 p.m. (theater area, Spadolini Pavilion) in recognition of his extraordinary ability to create a unique and universal visual language.
Tim BurtonPatricia Urquiola and design as emotion
Among the major protagonists of the Florence Biennale 2025 is Patricia Urquiola, designer, artist, and Art Director of Cassina. With her exhibition Transition, Urquiola offers a sensory journey through form, function, and emotion, inviting the public to discover new expressive possibilities of matter and space. The installation, constructed from recycled fir wood and polycarbonate, takes the form of a semi-transparent wall that encourages viewers to look at the world from different perspectives. For her contribution to contemporary design, Patricia Urquiola will receive the Leonardo da Vinci International Lifetime Achievement Award (Design) on Thursday, October 23, at 5:00 p.m. (Spadolini Pavilion), during a public dialogue with critic Silvia Robertazzi, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire Maison.
Patricia Urquiola ©SimonAwards and recognitions
In addition to the main awards to Tim Burton and Patricia Urquiola, the Biennale also awards three posthumous awards:
The President's “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Award to the Oliviero Leonardi Association, in memory of the Florentine painter and ceramist.
The “In Memoriam” Lifetime Achievement Award to Marcelo Mayorga, with a dedicated exhibition.
Commemoration of Mario Pachioli, member of the international jury and creator of the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” award.
International guests and special projects
The 15th Florence Biennale also welcomes numerous guests of honor from the international art and design scene, including:
Chilean jewelry designer Nicole Albagli Iruretagoyena
Swedish photographer Gabriel Isak
Italian artist Andrea Prandi
British sculptor Emily Young
Japanese painter and designer Liku Maria Takahashi
Chinese artist Chao Ge
Gregorio Luke, art historian and international curator
Special projects include:
the collective photography exhibition “Art Comes Before,” dedicated to Florentine photographer Manfredo Pinzauti
SlowTile by Made in Sipario
the design exhibition “Trame,” curated by Silvia Fanticelli
the circular economy project by Revet, R3Direct, and WASP
the international initiative “Archibiofoam,” involving the universities of Aalto, Milan, and Stuttgart
“Tuscany Means Design,” curated by ADI – Association for Industrial Design
Events, talks, and workshops
The program of the Florence Biennale 2025 is rich with collateral events, talks, workshops, and film premieres.
Among the most anticipated encounters are the lectures by curator and art historian Gregorio Luke, former director of the Museum of Latin American Art in Los Angeles:
Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 PM – Rembrandt
Saturday, October 25, 5:00 PM – David Alfaro Siqueiros
On Wednesday, October 22 at 12:30 PM, the official exhibition catalog (published by Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori) will also be presented. Edited by Giovanni Cordoni and Jacopo Celona, the presentation will feature Carlo Motta, editorial director of the Mondadori Group.
For the first time, the Biennale will also host a creative contest in collaboration with LOQI, the renowned brand known for its artist-designed bags. The collaboration will result in a limited-edition shopper inspired by the exhibition.
Maurizio Galimberti in Florence: conversation and photographic performance at Villa Angela
Among the most anticipated collateral events of the Florence Biennale 2025, on Saturday, October 18 at 5:00 PM, the talk Maurizio Galimberti in conversation with Alessandra Denza will take place at Villa Angela, Via San Miniato 8, Florence. During the conference, the renowned photographer and instant artist Maurizio Galimberti will delve into his personal approach to instant photography and the representation of cities through the Polaroid, the medium that has always defined his distinctive visual language. With his unmistakable gaze, Galimberti portrays Florence by capturing its light, geometries, and hidden details, transforming each shot into an act of poetic and perceptive rediscovery. His work will be set in dialogue with the writings of Charles Baudelaire (Les Fleurs du Mal), Fernando Pessoa, Walter Benjamin, and Italo Calvino (Invisible Cities), creating a path that intertwines image and literature, vision and urban philosophy. The event will be held in an exceptional setting: Villa Angela, a historic residence reopening to the public for the first time as a new cultural venue in Florence.
