Founded in 2022 by Michele Barbati, an Italian raised in close contact with the arts, Barbati Gallery has brought a fresh cultural space to the lagoon city. Open to the public year-round, the gallery hosts exhibitions that spark dialogue between established contemporary artists and emerging talents from around the world. We spoke with Michele Barbati to learn more about his gallery and the story behind it.
Can you tell us about the history of Barbati Gallery and why you chose Venice?
The choice of Venice is closely tied to my personal story. Although I wasn’t born here, I lived in the city until I was fifteen. After that, I began traveling and eventually settled in Los Angeles at the age of 22. I lived and worked there for nearly ten years, collaborating with a gallery. After that long journey, I decided to open my own gallery, starting in LA. A year later, in 2022, I opened the Venice location of Barbati Gallery, coinciding with the Venice Art Biennale.
Why did you decide to return to Venice after so many years abroad?
I felt it was the right time to come back to Italy. I also saw an opportunity. Despite its complexities, Venice offers a quality of life that few other cities can match. From an artistic standpoint, it’s a powerhouse. For such a small city, it has an incredible cultural density. Besides the Art and Architecture Biennales, there are institutions like the Pinault Foundation, Prada, the new Berggruen Foundation, and many others that draw an international audience passionate about art. Venice has grown a lot in the past ten years, and I believe that when you bring culture to the city, you also attract people who want to experience it in a more conscious, meaningful way.
Many consider it a difficult city. Would you agree?
Yes, Venice is extremely complex—but also very simple, in its own way. Unlike major cities like New York, London, or Milan, life here runs at a different pace. There’s no choice but to slow down and adapt. That allows you to experience things more deeply. When people visit the gallery here in Venice, they have more time, more mental space. That’s one reason why it’s such a good place to work in the art world.
Do you still feel connected to Venice, despite all your travels?
Very much so. It’s the place where I’ve spent the most time in my life. Sadly, Venice is often used and then forgotten—especially in cultural terms. Many come, do something, and then leave. A true ecosystem never gets built. With Barbati Gallery, I wanted to create a “normal” space—in the most positive sense of the word: a gallery open all year, rotating exhibitions every two months, with a steady program, just like in any other city. Bringing normalcy to a city that’s anything but normal is very important to me.
Is the Los Angeles location still open?
Right now, it’s closed, but we’re reopening soon. We’ve found a new space and are currently renovating it. We plan to relaunch in February next year.
So you’re still living between the two cities?
Yes, I split my time between Venice and Los Angeles, though I travel a lot for work—I have clients and artists all over the world. This personal connection between the two cities is also reflected in the gallery itself.
Why did you choose Campo Santo Stefano for the Venice location?
It immediately stood out to me—both the building, which has large spaces perfect for a gallery, and the neighborhood. It’s central and well-trafficked, but never overcrowded. Within a short walk, you’ve got San Marco, Rialto, the Accademia, Palazzo Grassi, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Guggenheim… It’s a strategic yet livable location.
How did your passion for art begin?
My mother is a gallerist, with spaces in Milan, London, Paris, and Asia. When we moved to Venice, she opened her first gallery right in our home. That’s where it all began—I literally grew up inside a gallery. Of course, over time my passion evolved independently, but that’s where the roots lie.
What kind of art do you showcase in the gallery?
We mainly work with young American artists, though we recently featured an Italian artist as well. We present painting, sculpture, photography—pretty much all mediums, except video, which we haven’t explored yet. We also occasionally collaborate with American galleries we admire, curating exhibitions together.
Three places in Venice you particularly love?
Definitely the Gallerie dell’Accademia—it’s always been a special place for me, ever since I was a kid. Then there’s the Lido, where I spent many summers—it has a unique charm, both in summer and winter. And finally Sant’Erasmo: it’s the island that “feeds” Venice, with its own authentic and precious ecosystem. I’d also add the Giudecca Canal as seen from the Zattere, and of course, the Doge’s Palace—an incredible place that tells so much of the city’s story.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
