Five years ago, The Transparent Breath set out with a clear ambition: to bring the international scene of contemporary glass jewelry to Venice, giving it a dedicated stage in one of the world’s historic centres of glass culture. Today, that ambition has become a living project, and its fifth edition confirms that the conversation it started is only growing richer.
The exhibition returns to Venice from September 5 to 21, 2026 , hosted at the Space Q, Libreria Giovanni by Edizioni Tlon at the Querini Stampalia Foundation, as part of The Venice Glass Week. Organized by the Cultural Association Arte Design Venezia and curated by Eleonora Varotto | HOOROON, the 2026 edition brings together 27 international artists from 16 countries, presenting works that explore the expressive and sculptural possibilities of glass within contemporary jewelry.
New partnerships and awards
This edition marks a significant expansion of the project’s international network. The confirmed collaboration with Creativity Oggetti Gallery (Turin) will once again offer selected artists the opportunity to exhibit in a dedicated show, with the possibility of permanent gallery representation.
For the first time, The Transparent Breath establishes a direct dialogue with the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar, Croatia, one of the most significant collections of ancient glass in Europe. Selected artists from the 2022-2026 editions will be featured in a dedicated museum exhibition in spring 2027, coinciding with the Museum’s 18th anniversary.
A new partnership with Glass Art & Design Paris (GAAD Paris), a leading international exhibition dedicated to contemporary glass art and design, introduces a mutual exchange of awards between the two events, creating a concrete bridge between Venice and Paris. In 2026, GAAD Paris also launches its first international competition dedicated to glass jewelry: Des Années Folles aux défilés Haute Couture.
The 2026 edition also welcomes Olga Struck, a selected student from Pforzheim University, among the participating artists, reinforcing the project’s commitment to emerging talent. Revista Atelierul renews its media partnership, offering editorial visibility to selected participating artists.
Together, these collaborations expand The Transparent Breath beyond the exhibition format, creating new opportunities for artists across galleries, museums, international events and academic institutions.
„Every year I am moved to see how this project continues to grow, not just in numbers, but in depth and meaning. The fact that new partners, institutions, and galleries choose to believe in The Transparent Breath year after year is something I am genuinely proud of. It tells me that what we are building here matters, and that the conversation around glass jewelry is becoming ever more alive on an international scale”. – Eleonora Varotto, curator
Events
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Official Presentation & Meet the Designer Day: Saturday, September 12th – 10:30 AM
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Public Guided Tour: Saturday, September 19th – 3:00 PM
Participating artists:
Jasminka Begić (Croatia), Dominyka Gulbinaitė (Lithuania), Celina Szelejewska-Pigulla (Germany), Agatha Kosobucki (Germany), Xin Yue (United Kingdom), Katarzyna Gemborys (Poland), Stéphane Olivier (France), Tetiana Dudakova (Ukraine), Lidia Noemi Orandi Godfrid (Argentina), Ana Viñuela (Spain), Anuschka Bayens (Belgium), Joanna Muzyka (Poland), Antonija Gospić (Croatia), David Melamed (Canada), Nawal Amer (Palestine), Neslihan Sadikoglu (Turkey), Julie Lasfargues (France), Marta Edöcs (Hungary), Luz Arias (Argentina), María Fernanda Pérez Morales (Mexico), Malwina Szadkowska (Poland), Oksana Koklonska (Ukraine), Nils Schubert (Germany), Eri Maeda (Japan), Isabelle Petegnief (France), Michi Suzuki (Japan), Olga Struck (Germany).
ARTE DESIGN VENEZIA
Arte Design Venezia is a cultural association dedicated to promoting art and design while enhancing Venice’s artistic heritage. Through exhibitions, guided tours and cultural activities, it fosters a national and international network connecting artists, designers, artisans and cultural institutions. The association also organizes Venice Design Week and participates in design weeks and cultural events throughout the year.
Libreria Giovanni
Curated by Edizioni Tlon, Libreria Giovanni combines the museum bookshop with an independent library. Located within the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, it offers books, objects and a programme of cultural events. Conceived as an extension of the museum experience, it is a dynamic and inclusive space dedicated to reflection, dialogue and active citizenship.
