illy floats giant coffee cups through Venice for Biennale Arte
illy coffee has placed four oversized coffee cups on the water in front of Piazza San Marco as part of its new Art Collection for Biennale Arte 2026, creating a floating public art installation.
The cups — on show at Riva Ca’ di Dio until 10 May — were designed by four contemporary artists responding to this year’s Biennale theme, In Minor Keys, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh.
Alice Maher, Werewere Liking, Thania Petersen and Mohammed Z. Rahman each bring distinct cultural perspectives to the classic illy espresso cup.
The installation giant illy cups on Venetian water — began life two years ago as an AI-generated image – now the brand have made the illusion a reality.
It sits in the same territory as De’Longhi’s miniature café campaign — brands using physical craft to do what digital can only suggest.
illy’s Art Collection has a long history of commissioning artists to rethink its signature cup.
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