Personal Structures. Confluences — Claus Bertermann at Venice 2026

The Palazzo Bembo sits directly on the Grand Canal — not behind it, not near it, on it. Stone floor, high ceilings, the sound of water audible if the room goes quiet enough. It is one of the oldest exhibition venues in Venice, and since 2011, during every edition of the Venice Biennale, the European Cultural Centre has filled it with contemporary art from across the world. This year, Claus Bertermann is among them. Personal Structures. Confluences opened on May 9, 2026, and runs through November 22. It is the eighth biennial edition of an exhibition that has always operated on its own terms — independent, international, refusing easy categorisation. This year, 175 artists from more than forty countries are represented across three ECC venues in Venice. The work spans painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and forms that resist a single word. The thread running through it is the theme: Confluences. What happens where things meet. Six works are on view, among them 03NR#CB, made in 2024. It belongs to the Abstract Series — oil on canvas, built in layers, scraped back, layered again. The process is slow and physical. What survives is what the canvas chose to keep. The piece is large. It needs room to be seen correctly, and the Palazzo Bembo gives it that. The list of artists in the exhibition includes Keith Haring, ORLAN, and Hirohiko Araki. Media partners include ArtReview and Ocula. Admission is free. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays. For collectors and curators travelling to Venice this season: Palazzo Bembo, Campo San Luca, San Marco 3609. Information and the full list of participating artists: personalstructures.com