Sigmar Polke, Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons: François Pinault’s huge collection includes works from almost all prominent contemporary artists. Thanks to the French billionaire, who owns luxury labels such as Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent, the Château Latour vineyard and the auction house Christie’s, modern art by various artists is now on display against the backdrop of Venice’s historic palazzos and stone bridges.

The art collector spent 25 million euros and commissioned Japanese architect Tadao Ando to renovate the Punta della Dogana, a former customs building which is more than 300 years old and lies at the tip of the Dorsoduro district by the Canal Grande, so that he could exhibit works from his extensive collection there.

The result is a gallery with a floor area of 4500 square metres – the perfect setting for acclaimed artwork such as Sigmar Polke’s “Axial Age”. Ando created internal walls from exposed concrete and added a second floor, while retaining the wooden ceiling beams and the existing exterior brick walls. Large panoramic windows offer views of the city and the water.

The Punta della Dogana, which is hosting the exhibition “In praise of doubt” until 31 December 2012, is Pinault’s second museum in Venice. In 2006 he opened the Palazzo Grassi on the other bank of the Canal Grande.

Text: Kim Leclaire

Information
Punta della Dogana
Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy (Vaporetto line 1 to Salute)
for information call +39(0)41 271 90 39

www.palazzograssi.it/