Homo Faber 2026 illuminates the human art of making

Es Devlin’s island of light

Serving as Artistic Director for the 2026 edition, Devlin uses light, water, mirrors, movement and sound to transform the rooms and grounds of Fondazione Giorgio Cini.

The installations invite visitors to look beyond the finished objects and consider their origins, from the workshops and tools of their makers to the materials and processes that shaped them.

‘My wish for Homo Faber 2026 is for visitors to shift their perspective,’ says Devlin. ‘I hope they will come away with an understanding of the etymology of objects, the hands that make them and the conditions in which they are made.’

The biennial encompasses work from 85 per cent of the artists exhibiting at Homo Faber for the first time. Traditional techniques sit alongside contemporary experimentation, revealing how material knowledge continues to evolve across cultures and generations.

Making in motion

More than a conventional exhibition, Homo Faber 2026 places live activity and participation at the centre of the visitor experience.

In An Atelier Alive, independent master artisans work with porcelain, leather, paper and textiles within a recreation of a working studio. Elsewhere, woodworkers and weavers demonstrate their processes in A Rooted Ascent, revealing how organic materials influence their work.

Visitors can also take part in workshops devoted to the Japanese crafts of kintsugi and hanko, or contribute to a growing installation through the art of origami. Each handmade paper creation will be added to a floral artwork that continues to develop throughout September.

Live demonstrations, guided encounters and the biennial’s Young Ambassadors programme offer further insight into the knowledge held by the participating artists. Bespoke dining spaces and pop-up restaurants also extend the event’s focus on material, design and Venetian culture beyond the exhibition rooms.

The programme continues across the city through Homo Faber in Città. Exhibitions and events celebrate Venice’s rich creative heritage, while 130 artisanal workshops featured in the Homo Faber Guide will open their doors to visitors throughout the month.

The Homo Faber Awards will also return for 2026. Every exhibiting artist has the opportunity to win one of three prizes, decided respectively by the public, invited journalists and the Young Ambassadors. Each winner will receive €10,000 to support the continued development of their practice.

Ptolemy Mann presents Kyushu Landscape (Bright)

Bringing together established names and emerging talent from across the world, Homo Faber 2026 reveals the time, knowledge and human touch contained within the objects around us. Mann’s vivid woven work is one example of how the biennial places inherited techniques in conversation with contemporary art, demonstrating the enduring possibilities of material and colour.

Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light runs at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice, from 1–30 September 2026.