The article highlights several must-see exhibitions and installations beyond the main Venice Biennale pavilions. Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo's redevelopment of the island of San Giacomo opens on 7 May, transforming abandoned Napoleonic-era powder magazines into exhibition spaces with a solo show by British artist Matt Copson and a group show from her collection. American artist Melissa McGill presents 'Marea', a street-spanning installation of 100 paintings created with local residents and students, addressing climate change and rising sea levels. Dale Chihuly returns to Venice with 'Chihuly: Venice 2026', featuring monumental glass installations along the Grand Canal, including 'Gold Tower' (2025). Wallace Chan unveils titanium sculptures at the Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà, with a parallel exhibition at the Long Museum in Shanghai.
These projects matter because they expand the cultural geography of the Venice Biennale beyond its official pavilions, demonstrating how private collectors, international artists, and local communities are reshaping the city's art landscape. The works engage directly with pressing global issues—climate change, existential inquiry, and cross-cultural dialogue—while also reviving historic sites and fostering collaboration between Venice and other art capitals like Shanghai. Together, they underscore the Biennale's role as a platform for ambitious, site-specific art that resonates beyond the exhibition halls.