Hong Kong–based artist Wallace Chan returns to Venice with “Vessels of Other Worlds,” a monumental new exhibition opening May 8, 2026, at the Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà. Timed to coincide with the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, the presentation marks a pivotal moment in the artist’s career, unveiling a new body of titanium sculptures that expand his longstanding exploration of material, spirituality, and transformation. Curated by James Putnam and presented in partnership with the Long Museum, the project unfolds as a dual-site exhibition spanning Venice and Shanghai.
Sacred Space Meets Contemporary Vision
Wallace Chan, “Vessels of Other Worlds,” Long Museum, installation view of “Birth Sculpture,” photo by Tian Fang Fang.
Set within the historic Pietà Chapel, famously associated with Antonio Vivaldi, the Venice installation offers an intimate yet conceptually expansive encounter with three central works. Positioned on the altar, these titanium vessels draw inspiration from the Olea Sancta, the sacred oils used in Catholic rituals. Each sculpture symbolizes a stage of life—birth, growth, and death—rendered through Chan’s signature fusion of intricate craftsmanship and philosophical inquiry.
Surrounding the trio, a constellation of suspended titanium forms evokes droplets in motion, lending the space a sense of fluidity and quiet transcendence. The installation is further activated by a triptych of video screens, which function as portals to the exhibition’s counterpart in Shanghai. There, the vessels appear at monumental scale, reaching up to ten meters in height—creating a dynamic dialogue between the two cities and extending the experience beyond physical boundaries.
The Evolution of Wallace Chan
Wallace Chan, “Vessels of Other Worlds,” Long Museum installation, close up of “Birth” Sculpture, photo by Zhong Han.
Chan, who began carving gemstones at the age of 16 and later pioneered the intricate “Wallace Cut,” has spent decades refining a practice that bridges sculpture, jewelry, and spiritual reflection. His embrace of titanium, a material he has researched extensively, signals a continued evolution, allowing for both structural innovation and symbolic resonance. In “Vessels of Other Worlds,” titanium becomes a metaphorical container: of memory, of time, and of unseen dimensions.
The works themselves draw subtle visual cues from art history, including Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sensibility. Across both sites, the exhibition also incorporates earlier works such as Transcendence, alongside Titans and Totem, creating a layered narrative that connects Chan’s past explorations with his current vision.
Following his previous Venice presentations, each drawing significant international audiences, this latest project deepens Chan’s engagement with the city’s unique atmosphere of history, water, and ritual. In the Pietà Chapel, centuries of music and devotion converge with futuristic materiality, inviting viewers into a contemplative space where inner and outer worlds meet.
What to Know
Wallace Chan, “Vessels of Other Worlds,” Long Museum, close up view of “Birth Sculpture,” photo by Tian Fang Fang.
Don’t Miss: The three altar-centered titanium vessels and the immersive video triptych linking Venice to Shanghai.
Why it Matters: A major new chapter in Wallace Chan’s practice, merging sculpture, spirituality, and cross-continental dialogue.
Dates: May 8–October 18, 2026.
Venue: Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà, Venice.
Curator: James Putnam.
