Hey travelers, we've got some big news for you: Venice is once again pulling out all the stops to deliver a truly unforgettable art experience: Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with “Dreamers”. This one's going to be a real showstopper, folks, and it's set to be a major cultural highlight of the 2026 season. Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm is the man behind it all - an artist known for his bold approach to sculpture and his ability to turn everyday objects into works of art. He comes from Bruck an der Mur and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna - a city which clearly had a big impact on his artistic style.
In the heart of the San Marco district, the evocative Museo Fortuny in Venice, Italy, housed in the historic Palazzo Fortuny and closely linked to the legacy of Mariano and Henriette Fortuny, opens its doors to an extraordinary monographic exhibition dedicated to Erwin Wurm, one of Europe’s most influential contemporary artists. The exhibition “Dreamers” will be open from May 6 to November 22, 2026, giving visitors more than six months to explore a truly unconventional artistic journey that integrates Wurm's contemporary work with the layered, historic environment of the museum.
Let’s find out in this news by Venice Insider Guide.
Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with "Dreamers"
Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with “Dreamers” - yes, it's all officially confirmed. But what exactly is "Dreamers"? Well, it's not just an exhibition - it's a whole different way of looking at art. Wurm's got a series of works that really get you thinking about what it means to be human, and how we relate to the world around us. His "One Minute Sculptures" are maybe his most famous works - they're the ones where he invites people to pose with everyday objects in some pretty wacky ways. And let's be honest, they're pretty hard to forget.
Wurm’s One Minute Sculptures challenge the boundaries between art and everyday life, engaging viewers as active participants and transforming the physical body into living sculpture. His practice involves questioning notions of time, mass, and surface, using humor as a fundamental tool to open up philosophical and social questions about contemporary society and capitalist influences. Wurm’s work often exists in the liminal space between high and low culture, exploring what he perceives as a farcical and invented reality.
The artist anthropomorphises everyday objects in unexpected ways - such as adding legs to bags or creating architectural objects like Fat House and Fat Car - and explores bodily growth, sculptural extension, and the physical act as sculptural gestures. His abstract sculptures and mass and surface abstraction challenge formal qualities and surface abstraction and representation, with an approach rooted in both applied arts and fine arts, influenced by his studies in Vienna’s applied arts tradition. The result is a highly engaging experience, capable of surprising even seasoned art enthusiasts.
A Major Debut in Italy
This exhibition marks a major milestone for Erwin Wurm in Italy - his first real big show here. Wurm's work has been making waves all over the world for years, and it's great to see him getting the recognition he deserves here in Italy.
Curated by Elisabetta Barisoni and Cristina Da Roit, the show fits right in with Venice's vibrant art scene - and it's a great chance to engage with the beautiful, historic Fortuny Museum.
Visitor information
The location of Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with Dreamers: Fortuny Museum, Venice (San Marco district)
The dates of Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with Dreamers: May 6 – November 22, 2026
Opening hours: typically 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:00 PM, closed on Tuesdays)
The tickets of the Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with Dreamers: included in the museum admission.
Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with Dreamers: Why you shouldn’t miss it
Why should you make a beeline for Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum in Venice with “Dreamers”?
If you're planning a trip to Venice in the coming months theres a must-see exhibition worth putting on your radar. The 'Dreamers' series is a real showstopper - oversized cushions suspended above human limbs that capture the weird dynamic between our bodies and that dream world that's swirling around in our heads. The Substitutes series is also part of the show, and it's all about empty clothes that stand in for people - raising some pretty interesting questions about who we are and where our identities come from.
Wurm's sculptures are all about the weight of our deepest thoughts and feelings, and they work as sort of metaphors for the unconscious - you know, that part of ourselves that we don't really know much about. It all comes down to the tension between being there and being somewhere else - and he uses clothes as a way to explore all that - as though theyre these sculptures that are an extension of our bodies, monuments to when we're not around. Its a real chance to see some cutting edge art in a truly breathtaking backdrop. With some proper surprises and some contemporary food for thought "Dreamers" will be one of those shows that stays with you a while.
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