The Curatorial Vision: Art, Tailored Craftsmanship, and Private Homes

ORBITA was conceived by the architects at ETEREO as a traveling platform designed to transcend the traditional exhibition concept and rediscover the essence of bespoke living. At Palazzo Ca’ Donà, historic architecture and couture interior design converge in a setting where nothing is left to chance: moldings, frescoes, and stucco details form the backdrop for unique, signature pieces across various rooms—ranging from the Venetian dining room to the hammam, and from the Chinese sitting room to the French boudoir—each showcasing the finest elements of diverse cultures.

Beauty is a form of genius; indeed, it is higher than genius because it requires no explanation.

(Oscar Wilde)

In Venice, along the banks of the Grand Canal in the Santa Croce district, the doors of Palazzo Ca’ Donà are opening for a special occasion to host ORBITA. Curated and conceived by the international architecture and interior design studio ETEREO—founded by Stefania Digregorio and Mirko Sala Tenna—this temporary exhibition embodies the quintessence of “couture interior design”: the ability to “dress” the rooms of a prestigious patrician residence like a bespoke garment, creating a fluid, sartorial dialogue between collectible design, fine antiques, and contemporary artistic research.

Key Partners and Exhibited Works

Nilufar Gallery: A Dialogue Between 20th-Century Masters and Contemporary Design

Under the guidance of Nina Yashar, Nilufar Gallery brings an enchanting dialogue between design icons and avant-garde creations to the palazzo’s spaces.

Standout pieces include works by Gio Ponti—such as the celebrated Casa e Giardino armchair, a symbol of 20th-century modernism and bourgeois elegance—and Gabriella Crespi, featuring the dramatic bed from the Rising Sun series, distinguished by its unmistakable blend of rattan, bamboo, and polished brass finishes. The exhibition also showcases works by Bethan Laura Wood, Osanna Visconti, Vikram Goyal, Allegra Hicks, Venini, Christian Pellizzari, and Ico Parisi.

Brun Fine Art: excellence in period painting and sculpture

Brun Fine Art completes interior design projects by enriching rooms with masterpieces of antique and modern art; it enhances the narrative through paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and furnishings by masters such as Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, Pietro Melandri, Francesco Hayez, Corrado Cagli, Carlo Zauli, Carlo Grubacs, and Giovanni Boldini, creating a continuous interplay between the antique and the modern.

Massimiliano Pelletti: Matter and Stone

The work of sculptor Massimiliano Pelletti, from Pietrasanta, stands out in various rooms along the exhibition route at Palazzo Ca’ Donà. The Tuscan artist engages with the spaces through his renowned sculptures in marble and natural stone—such as jasper, quartz, and travertine—in which the classical, Hellenistic-inspired figure is fractured and traversed by the geological imperfections of the raw material, creating works of extraordinary expressive power.

AnotherView: nomadic windows onto history

The AnotherView collective lends an immersive dimension to the palazzo. Their renowned “digital windows”—installations framing landscapes and views captured around the world over the course of 24 hours—are set into the palazzo’s walls like hypnotic, constantly moving paintings.

ORBITA is an exhibition truly not to be missed by lovers of beauty.

The Secret

The poetic atmosphere of the palace’s rooms has regained its splendor thanks to the artistry of the Brescian master Gio Bressana, creator of the magnificent frescoes that adorn the interiors, weaving a sophisticated dialogue between past and present.

Useful Info

Orbita a Palazzo Ca’ Donà
Santa Croce 2211
30135 Venezia 

Free admission with mandatory reservation via Orbita’s website