Four giant coffee cups have floated on the water in front of Piazza San Marco, in Venice, on the occasion of the 61st edition of La Biennale, the international exhibition of contemporary art, which this time began on May 9. The action has been carried out by the coffee brand Illy, which acts as the main sponsor of the event, with the intention of conveying the idea that each coffee can be a work of art.

The installation has unveiled the new Illy Art Collection, the new collection of mugs created by the brand together with contemporary artists, an initiative that already has more than three decades of history. As has happened in recent years, this edition covers the exhibition, delving into the relationship between Illy and the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia, which has existed since 2003.

Thus, the pieces of the collection have been reinterpreted in large size and placed on a structure that could be seen in one of the most emblematic points of the Italian city, thus creating a floating artistic installation. Additionally, the cups have been displayed on dry land at Riva Ca’ di Dio until Sunday, May 10, inviting visitors to explore the collection as if it were an open-air gallery.
The campaign has been worked with EssenceMediacom Italia.

The mugs have been designed by four contemporary artists in response to this year’s Biennale theme, “In minor key”, which has focused on the intimate, emotional and sensory aspects of the creative process, prioritizing connection and reflection over spectacle. The exhibition has been curated by the late Koyo Kouoh.

Illy has collaborated this year with the Irish Alice Maher, the Cameroonian Werewere Liking, the South African Thania Petersen and the British Mohammed Z. Rahman. The four artists, belonging to three different generations, have explored, as the brand explains on its website, the dialogue between art and everyday life, bringing different cultural perspectives to the classic illy espresso cup.

“Their practices, different in terms of language and materials, share a strong conceptual coherence and fit the vision of the In Minor Keys exhibition.“, they explain from Illy, “Together, they embody our mission: transforming everyday gestures into moments of wonder”.

“On the occasion of La Biennale de Arte 2026, we bring art and coffee to the heart of Venice in a truly immersive way, transforming familiar landscapes into a striking visual experience.”Illy pointed out through LinkedIn. “A celebration of the beauty found in everyday rituals, reimagined as shared, physical moments in contrast to an increasingly AI-driven world”.

In addition, illy has been present at the exhibition facilities, specifically in the Biennial Gardens, with a stand that offered coffee to visitors. The brand has also collaborated with influencers and content creators to amplify the reach of the initiative.

The installation of giant illy cups over the Venetian waters represents the materialization of a concept that he presented two years ago, also to present his Art Collection. On that occasion, it broadcast a piece of simulated outdoor advertising (fake out-of-home), created with special effects.

The Art Collection mug collection is sold through the Illy website, both together, for 105 euros, and individually, for 30 euros each.