Nomad: Creating a Community of Individuals

After a successful debut appearance in Monaco two years ago Nomad organizes a second event in the Venetian Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel. It coincides with the 58th Venice Biennale Arte in September and continues to rethink how work is presented. Moreover, it aims to create an event that is bespoke, intimate and provides a radically new context.

Created by Giorgio Pace and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, Nomad establishes a unique dialogue between works and personal context creating a community of individuals looking for a different experience. The event for collectors, designers, architects and art-, design professionals travels to different destinations of architectural significance, where it seeks to stage entirely new showcases that explore design, art, and context.

This year’s location, Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel, is a Gothic palace dating from 1473 on the Southern tip of the Cannaregio quarter in Venice. With 3.500 sqm on four floors, the period-listed building was once the residence of wealthy Flemish textile merchants. Closed to the public until 2017, the palace has been restored with special attention to historical integrity over the duration of seven years.

This edition also presents a unique partnership with Venice Glass Week, aiming to strengthen one of Venice’s historic artisan crafts and remaining industries. The craft of Venetian glassmaking exists since the 8th century and its tradition encompasses master-glassmakers working with materials of a special chemical composition melted under high temperatures in furnaces. With regards to the rich cultural heritage of Murano, Nomad looks forward to initiating an international survey of the material and its contemporary use through special projects, commissions, and collaborations between local craft and global galleries or designers.

Nomad Venice takes place from 5th till 8th of September 2019.