Anish Kapoor and the work series at Palazzo Manfrin
Published on 08/29/2026 at 14:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Anish Kapoor has spent decades testing how sculpture can bend space, color and perception. At Palazzo Manfrin in Venice, his foundation headquarters becomes a dense retrospective of architectural models and large-scale works that trace this long exploration of form and void.
The Palazzo Manfrin exhibition arc
Palazzo Manfrin in Cannaregio, a 16th-century Venetian palazzo acquired by Anish Kapoor, hosts the exhibition Anish Kapoor: Palazzo Manfrin, presenting around one hundred architectural models from five decades alongside expansive sculptural installations.
The show runs during the 61st Venice Biennale framework and is only the second public opening of the palazzo since Kapoor purchased and renovated it as the home of his foundation, positioning the building as both archive and experimental site.
Key work series in Venice
Among the models and works at Palazzo Manfrin are maquettes for major projects such as Cloud Gate, the mobile concert hall Ark Nova and the metro-station project for Naples, shown alongside stainless steel mirror pieces, pigment sculptures and silicone-based architectural forms.
The exhibition also connects these models to Kapoor’s wider practice of creating void-like forms and perceptual distortions, including works associated with his use of ultra-black surfaces like Vantablack, which intensify the sense of depth and disappearance in sculptural space.
All news and background on Anish Kapoor
For further reporting on Anish Kapoor’s exhibitions, commissions and market results, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers cross-referenced coverage of his major projects.
The broader work core
Beyond Venice, Anish Kapoor’s practice spans mirrored steel sculptures, deep void forms, pigment works, visceral wax and silicone pieces, and architecturally scaled interventions that activate entire buildings or landscapes.
His long career includes seminal works such as the Chicago public sculpture Cloud Gate, the turbine-hall installation Marsyas at Tate Modern and large-scale mirror and void works that recur in exhibitions from London’s Hayward Gallery to institutions in Germany and Finland.
Where the artist stands now
Anish Kapoor currently maintains a globally active practice with major institutional exhibitions in London, Venice and Duisburg in 2026, while his foundation at Palazzo Manfrin continues to frame his work series in an architectural and archival context.
Key facts on Anish Kapoor
- Artist: Anish Kapoor
- Medium / Genre: Sculpture and installation (architectural, perceptual)
- Born: 1954, Mumbai, India
- Place(s) of practice: Studio in London, projects internationally including Venice and Duisburg
- Active since: Late 1970s, with early prominence in the 1980s British sculptural scene
- Key work groups: Void sculptures, Mirror works, Pigment pieces, Architectural projects
- Current/last exhibition: Anish Kapoor, Hayward Gallery, London, June 16 to October 18, 2026; Anish Kapoor: Palazzo Manfrin, Palazzo Manfrin, Venice, May 6 to August 8, 2026; major exhibition at Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, April 24 to August 30, 2026
- Major collections: Tate (London), MoMA (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Nationalgalerie (Berlin), Guggenheim (New York)
- Awards: Turner Prize 1991, numerous international honors for public sculpture and installation work
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Anish Kapoor
Where can I see Anish Kapoor’s work series around Palazzo Manfrin?
The exhibition Anish Kapoor: Palazzo Manfrin in Venice presents around one hundred architectural models and large-scale works from the artist’s five-decade practice in the palazzo that houses his foundation.
Which major exhibitions of Anish Kapoor are on view in 2026?
In 2026, Anish Kapoor’s work is featured at London’s Hayward Gallery, Palazzo Manfrin in Venice and the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg, forming a triad of large-scale institutional shows focused on sculpture and installation.
What types of work series define Anish Kapoor’s practice?
Kapoor’s practice centers on void sculptures, polished mirror works, intense pigment pieces, visceral silicone and wax forms, and architecturally scaled interventions that transform buildings and public spaces into perceptual environments.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
