Sanlorenzo presents Breathtaking as the inaugural exhibition at Casa Sanlorenzo

Sanlorenzo, a symbol of culture and craftsmanship in the world of yachting, proudly presents Breathtaking as the inaugural exhibition at Casa Sanlorenzo, the brand’s new cultural hub in Venice, under the banner of Sanlorenzo Arts. Conceived and created by internationally renowned artist Fabrizio Ferri, the installation is a reflection on the devastating impact of plastic and microplastic pollution in the oceans – a work that underscores the direct link between marine pollution and its lethal consequences for human life. 

Housed in a restored 1940s villa overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Casa Sanlorenzo was restored by Sanlorenzo’s Artistic Director, Piero Lissoni, and conceived as a place where design, dialogue, and environmental awareness converge. Accessible through the first pedestrian bridge built in Venice since 2008, the opening of this space marks a bold new chapter in Sanlorenzo’s journey, where excellence in yachting meets artistic and sustainable purpose.

Following its acclaimed debut at the Museo di Storia Naturale in Milan earlier this year, with more than 40.000 visits in four days, Breathtaking arrives in Venice with an entirely new addition: a portrait of music legend and activist Sting. In this haunting body of work, Ferri encases 13 iconic figures in plastic, suspended in a breathless stillness. The striking visuals evoke the silent suffocation of marine ecosystems under the weight of plastic pollution.

“Not long ago, I stumbled upon some very disturbing photographs of a seal and a dolphin suffocated by plastic bags. Looking at these images I gained a new awareness: the deadly force of the contamination of the seas and oceans that we cause with plastic and microplastics is not only killing the oceans, we are also killing ourselves. To share this conviction, I conceived an installation, Breathtaking, capturing dramatic portraits of famous international talents as if asphyxiated by plastic. Their adhesion to the project has been immediate and emotional. Each of the large format prints will hang on a black wall, transfixed by two hand-forged iron nails. The viewer will be immersed inside this oval-shaped installation, at the center of which will be placed a transparent glass coffin filled with water." – said Fabrizio Ferri.

Breathtaking will immerse visitors in the haunting silence of the deep sea through a striking and fully enveloping installation. At its centre, a large glass coffin filled with seawater — a potent symbol of the fragility of marine ecosystems and of life itself — will stand surrounded by 13 large-scale images, mounted on a black wall and pierced with raw iron nails. Marina Abramović has contributed to the work by proposing the recreation of the ocean’s soundless void through the use of noise-cancelling headphones.

With this first exhibition, Casa Sanlorenzo establishes itself not only as an exhibition space but also as a symbol of the brand’s cultural commitment. Curated under the Sanlorenzo Arts programme, this venue is a platform for interdisciplinary exploration, where sustainability, design, and the sea become the canvas for a new creative dialogue.

Held during the Venice International Film Festival and the 2025 Biennale Architettura, the opening brought together leading figures from the worlds of yachting, architecture, art, and cinema – including multi-award-winning actor Willem Dafoe, whose portrait appears in the exhibition alongside those of Sting, of course, Helena Christensen, Misty Copeland, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Gala Gonzalez, Julianne Moore, Bridget Moynahan, Carolyn Murphy, Isabella Rossellini, Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts.

“Casa Sanlorenzo is a natural extension of our philosophy, where beauty and responsibility go hand in hand,” declared Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman Sanlorenzo.

“With Breathtaking, we open our doors not only to art but to a deeper conversation about the future of our oceans. This is not just an installation. It is a statement of intent.”

Open until 23 November, Breathtaking places Sanlorenzo at the heart of Venice’s cultural season, inviting its yacht owners, art collectors, creators, and change-makers into a space that reflects the brand’s most pressing values: innovation, sustainability, and beauty with purpose.

The Breathtaking installation, curated by Geraldina Polverelli Ferri and Cristiano Seganfreddo, was photographed in New York by Geraldina Polverelli Ferri and in Italy with the support of Nobile Agency, in collaboration with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, with the backing of Credem Euromobiliare Private Banking.

The exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday 2 September to Sunday 23 November, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Thursday to Sunday).