In Venice, on the Giudecca island, the Fortuny Factory and Showroom guards the secret of the fabrics designed by the genius of Mariano Fortuny, whose legacy is now masterfully interpreted by Chahan Minassian in the Palazzina that was once home to Elsie McNeill Lee, the entrepreneur who made the brand immortal.

The miracle that this temple of beauty has survived to this day is due, in fact, to an enlightened American entrepreneur, Elsie McNeill Lee, better known as Countess Gozzi after her marriage to Count Alvise Gozzi. She was the exclusive distributor of Fortuny fabrics in the USA and, upon Mariano Fortuny’s death, was encouraged by his wife Henriette to continue production. In 1988, the Countess named Maged F. Riad, a trusted collaborator, as her heir, and since 1994, the Riad family has carried on the brand’s legacy.

The timeless art of Mariano Fortuny meets the vision of Chahan Minassian, giving life to a dialogue of sublime beauty.

Chahan Minassian’s exhibition: a dialogue between eras

Minassian’s project, inaugurated on May 5, 2026, is not a simple exhibition, but an immersive experience. Through a selection of designer pieces and iconic furnishings, Palazzina Fortuny becomes an art gallery where Fortuny fabrics mingle with Chahan Design collections and exquisite artworks. Among the artists on display (all works are available for purchase):

Joana Vasconcelos: With her monumental and baroque textile installations, the Portuguese artist engages with Fortuny’s legacy; the wall tapestry in the residence’s first-floor living room is truly marvelous.

Paul Evans: The American artist’s powerful wrought metals and Brutalist furniture contrast with the organic structures and lightness of Fortuny fabrics with sublime expressive power.

Arne Quinze: An explosion of metallic flowers and vibrant colors typical of the Belgian artist, bringing the explosive force of wild nature to the Palazzina.

Peter Lane: The American artist’s monumental ceramic walls blend with the anthropomorphic lines of Fortuny fabrics and Chahan furniture.

The Common Thread: The Octopus Collection

The true silent protagonist, the soul that connects each room like an alchemical binder, is Fortuny’s Octopus Collection. These elements, characterized by sinuous, tentacular lines reminiscent of the lagoon’s depths, serve as the true thread running through the exhibition.

The Octopus collection, curated by Fortuny Creative Director Mickey Riad, is a metaphor for Venice itself: fluid, enveloping, and mysterious. Its fabrics and patterns insinuate themselves between Vasconcelos’s sculptures and Paul Evans’s furniture, creating a scenic rhythm that guides the visitor on a unique sensory journey.

The Secret

The building, dating back to the 1950s, was renovated between 1958 and 1961 by the architect Luigi Vietti, famous for having designed the most beautiful villas on the Costa Smeralda and in Cortina.

Useful Info

Fortuny
Giudecca 805
30133 Venezia
Tel. +39 041 5287697

Free cultural guided tours are usually held on the first and last Wednesday of the month. It’s essential to book well in advance through the official website fortuny.com/visit (in the “Book an appointment” section), as space is limited.

Entrance to the Showroom and the Palazzina for purchases by appointment, including weekends.