Homo Faber 2026, in Venice the talent of craftsmanship becomes light

Curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship and organized in partnership with Fondazione Giorgio Cini and Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, the event celebrates the talent of master craftsmen and craft artists in 15 installations that Es Devlin has developed in an evocative play of light, water, reflections, movement and sounds. An engaging narrative that transports visitors directly into the universe of artistic professions, from the artisans themselves to their workshops, to the tools, materials and splendid objects born from their savoir-faire. 85% of the artisans on display are participating in “Homo Faber” for the first time. The 2026 edition marks a natural evolution compared to the previous ones, and invites the public to explore the relationship between light, materials, talent and creativity.

«My goal is to offer a new perspective», explains Es Devlin. «For me it is important that visitors to Homo Faber 2026 can live an experience through which they can delve deeper into the etymology of objects, the hands that made them, the situations and places in which they were created. My hope is that the public will want to try their hand at manual creation, that they will be encouraged to support those who have dedicated their lives to these practices, and that they will always be able to question themselves about the path of every object they hold in their hands.”

Hanneli Rupert, executive vice president of the Michelangelo Foundation, comments: «Homo Faber was born from a simple but essential vision: artistic professions have value. The fourth edition of the Homo Faber Biennial takes place in a truly unique historical context. In the era in which technology is able to generate images, synthesize voices and reproduce shapes with surprising results, many are rediscovering the pleasure of authenticity and deeper values. We are constantly searching for the human imprint: traces of individuality, imperfection, ability and awareness. As part of Homo Faber 2026 we wanted to create an experience that reflected our philosophy not only on a rational but also emotional level. This is why we invited Es Devlin to take care of the artistic direction. Es Devlin is able to guide us towards unique and original universes, reminding us that we can choose to manage technology rather than be controlled by it. At a time when everything seems precarious, we increasingly need help to see what human beings are capable of creating by combining mind, heart and hands.”

«Enhancing artistic professions, human talent and creativity means defending our freedom to choose», adds Alberto Cavalli, executive director of the Michelangelo Foundation. «It is legitimate to be attracted by artificial intelligence, but this must not preclude us from pursuing different dreams: the dream of being able to give a name to those who create the objects we use; the dream of turning a talent into a profession; the dream of making one’s hands an instrument that can change the world. Homo Faber 2026 brings these extraordinary talents and their personalities to the fore, sharing and paying homage to their stories with due sensitivity and sincerity.”

Gianfelice Rocca, president of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, underlines: «For 75 years our Foundation has been a place where different disciplines meet. Here restoration and research, art and science, tradition and innovation coexist. It is a space where ideas can be born, grow and transform. Homo Faber 2026 manages to shed light on this identity. The ancient dialogues with the contemporary.”

“Homo Faber” 2026 is a space where you can explore artistic professions, learn their language and be inspired by the creativity of doing. Experiential workshops, personalized gastronomic proposals and live demonstrations complete and enrich the exhibition itinerary:

– An Atelier Alive proposes the reconstruction of a real artisan laboratory, where masters of ceramics, glass, metal, textiles and many other disciplines share their knowledge, their techniques and their creative processes with visitors.

– Natural materials are the source of inspiration for the masterpieces created under the gaze of visitors by wood artists and weavers in A Rooted Ascent.

– Traditional Japanese techniques of kintsugi and hanko are reinterpreted by European master craftsmen in two participatory workshops presented by Mazda. A minimum age of 10 years is required (minors must be accompanied by a paying adult). Participation has an individual cost of €10; reservation required on homofaber.com.

– The free workshop, supported by Mazda, dedicated to the Japanese art of origami takes place under the guidance of the Italian artist Giuseppe Romeo. Each participant creates and places a white flower which during the month of September will be transformed into a splendid collective work of art, created by the Homo Faber 2026 public.

– The pop-up A Glasshouse Restaurant offers a tailor-made culinary experience where you can enjoy top-level Venetian specialties proposed by Local Venezia, an exclusive restaurant and trattoria in the heart of the lagoon city. Guests can choose between three tasting menus – with related wine pairings – prepared with high quality local ingredients that transform traditional specialties into masterpieces of contemporary cuisine. The refined environment is characterized by fine tableware and furnishings, including a 7 meter long glass table and a spectacular Murano glass chandelier kindly made available by iDOGI. Reservation required.

– In the more casual context of A Trattoria on an Island, the menu designed by Local Venezia pays homage to the authentic spirit of the Serenissima and the rich culinary heritage of the lagoon. Reservation recommended.

– At A Garden Café and A Pool Bar, two self-service bar-cafés located in the gardens of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, it is possible to enjoy a relaxing break, accompanied by a drink or a light snack.

– The exhibition spaces are animated by Homo Faber’s Young Ambassadors, young students from the best schools of applied arts, design and business in the world, who are entrusted with the task of telling the objects on display and the stories of the artisans who made them.

– A wide selection of thematic objects and publications is available at the Homo Faber 2026 shop.

All the craft artists on display at Homo Faber 2026 compete for one of the three prizes awarded respectively by the public, the accredited press and the Young Ambassadors. To vote you need to download the Homo Faber app, create an account and scan the QR code displayed next to each object (or series by the same master) on display. Voting is open until the end of September, and it is possible to express your preferences via the app even after the visit. The three winning objects will be announced during the final day of Homo Faber 2026. As an incentive to develop and support their career, each winner is awarded a cash prize of 10,000 euros.

In addition to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, it is possible to enrich your experience by discovering the artisan crafts present in the city of Venice.

– Sanlorenzo Arts hosts Homo Faber in Città, a cycle of two exhibitions set up at Casa Sanlorenzo, the permanent cultural headquarters of the Italian shipyard: Ca’ Riflesso by Artemest, dedicated to Italian master craftsmen, and Fiat Lux by De Mains De Maîtres Luxembourg, which presents artists of the Grand Duchy’s craftsmanship. Next to the iconic glass staircase of Casa Sanlorenzo there is also the installation The Integrity of Materials, created in collaboration with Artemest, which is dedicated to four contemporary objects created by established Venetian masters, an expression of the philosophy shared by Sanlorenzo. The three organizations generously support the Homo Faber in Città initiative.

– For the entire month of September it is possible to visit the 130 artisan workshops in the city of Venice present in the Homo Faber Guide for free and without reservation. The dedicated online platform allows you to plan your visit based on opening hours and suggested itineraries.

– A wide and curated selection of exhibitions and events linked to Venice and its rich artisan heritage, which take place in splendid locations in conjunction with Homo Faber 2026, is presented on a dedicated page on the homofaber.com website.