Group of artists who create AQVART, an event curated by Margherita Blonska-Ciardi.
Aqvart is an international exhibition event dedicated to the relationship between water and beauty, organized by Studio Artemisia, directed by Architect Margherita Blonska Ciardi. The exhibition takes place every September in Venice under the patronage of the City of Venice and the Polish Embassy, and is included in the national cultural promotion program called “Le città in festa.” Past editions of the event have featured several internationally renowned artists, such as the Venetian sculptor and architect Gianni Aricò—creator of the bronze and glass decorations on the facade of the Goldoni Theater—and the Israeli architect and artist Uri de Beer (a frequent participant in the Venice Biennale and creator of the installations in the municipality of San Giuliano Veneto). This year, two of Aqvart’s artists were among the highlights of the Venice Biennale: German artist Patrizia Casagranda exhibited in the Tanzanian pavilion at the Biennale, while Polish artist Krzysztof Konopka presented his innovative artistic movement, known as “orapism,” during a conference. A group of artists, including Karin Monschauer and Widmer Tassinari, were featured in October 2026 in New York on a giant screen in Times Square, showcasing their art on a global stage. Other artists, such as Patrizia Casagranda, Antonino Puliafico, and Alma Sheik, will have their artworks screened in New York in November and December. The Macedonian artist Irena Gapkovska will be featured in the November issue of the Florentine magazine ‘La Toscana Nuova’, which, as well as dedicating a page to her, will feature one of her works on display at the Arsenale on the cover. Over the years, the Aqvart event has become increasingly closely linked to the cultural scene of Venice, establishing a solid and ongoing collaboration with the Venetian Marina Prando Dance School in the context of the performances dedicated to art and dance that take place every two years at the Teatro Goldoni, whilst drawing on the opinions and advice of the renowned art expert Sebastiano Scarpa, a well-known Venetian gallery owner.
Since 2026, the collaboration with the MoCA association has begun, linking up with the prestigious international Arte Laguna Prize and exhibition. Aqvart, in its commitment to promoting art, celebrates the natural beauty and environment surrounding the Lagoon, honouring the history of the city of Venice, its craftsmanship and ancient trades born of the symbiosis between an ancient urban settlement and water, which has not only been a source of life for fishing, a safeguard against invasions and a route for communication and trade made possible by maritime transport, but also a source of inspiration and inventiveness for craftsmen and artists.Since 2026, Aqvart has been a collateral event of the Laguna Prize, as it shares the same values,
aiming to help artists from all over the world come together to exchange their professional experiences. Venice is the perfect destination for this purpose, being both a centre of ancient and contemporary art, as well as a true window onto the art world from which to dare to reach out to other distant horizons.
The Laguna Prize, with its prestigious award, can offer artists the opportunity to experience the art world on a global scale.
For this year’s Arte Laguna Studio Artemisia exhibition, curated by architect Margherita Blonska Ciardi, nine international artists from the Aqvart group have been selected. We will be able to see works by: Stephanie Holznecht from the USA, Irena Gapkovska from North Macedonia, Widmer Tassinari from Italy, Alma Sheik from Suriname, Michal Avrech from Israel, Piotr Bubak from Poland, Antonino Puliafico from Italy, Karin Monschauer from Luxembourg,
and Kinga Lapot Dzierwa from Poland.
The Aqvart artists, as part of the Arte Laguna collateral exhibition taking place from 6 to 29 November 2026 at the Arsenale, will explore a range of styles
and techniques, presenting their own visions inspired by the exhibition’s ideals to place Venice, humanity and nature at the centre of attention.
