A renowned fashion designer is opening an art space inside a Baroque palace

I can hardly think of anything more exciting than the realization that a historic site is about to be given new life through a carefully conceived and curated cultural program. This time, the news takes us to Venice, with the central figure of this intriguing development being Dries Van Noten, who together with his husband Patrick Vangheluwe is founding the art foundation Fondazione Dries Van Noten. Yes, this will be the place where we will experience the most refined fashion to art transition of the celebrated Belgian designer, who has already demonstrated throughout his fashion career how deeply he values craftsmanship, and this will be no exception.

Fondazione Dries Van Noten emerges as a new cultural and artistic landmark, rooted in the city’s history and dedicated to its creative future, the press release states. Of particular interest is the location. The impressive and lavish Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a Venetian Baroque palace from the 15th century, will become the home of this new foundation, whose aim is to modernize one of Venice’s most renowned palazzos. Its role as a non-profit cultural institution will unfold throughout the year through presentations, collaborative projects, residencies, satellite activities, and educational programs for students and young creatives. The foundation is dedicated to building connections within Venice’s cultural network, across disciplines and among communities near and far, creating new visions and opportunities for the city through the enduring power of art, beauty, and craftsmanship, they tell us poetically.

The decision to step away from the fashion world in June 2024, when Dries Van Noten officially left his eponymous fashion house after an extraordinary 38 years, was gradual and far from easy. In an interview with American Vogue, Dries Van Noten revealed: “The story actually begins seven or eight years ago. When I was 59, I started thinking about the future, about my brand and about us as a couple. We knew we had to find someone to take over the brand. Closing was not an option; there was too much identity and too many elements that could continue under someone who respects its soul while bringing their own signature. The archive was complete, and our team in Antwerp, many of whom have been with us for 20, 25, even 35 years, was deeply connected to the brand. Simply saying, ‘Sorry, I’m 65, goodbye’ would not have been honest. So we decided to step back when I turned 66 and finally say to ourselves: ‘Okay, we’re stopping. It’s time for something else.’”

Photo: Camilla Glorioso/ Courtesy of Dries Van Noten

The idea to establish the foundation came from a simple desire shared by Dries and Patrick, who still wanted to do something meaningful. “Life has given us so much, and we worked like crazy, but throughout it all, there was one constant element: craftsmanship. I have always been fascinated by embroidery. I spent a lot of time in India, working with masters in villages rather than factories, thinking about preserving their skills without pushing even more people into already overcrowded cities like Kolkata. The same approach guided my work in Europe: I worked on hand-painted garments in Como, with small weavers in Lyon who still work on wooden looms from the 1920s, always valuing the human hand, skill, and the subtle imperfections that make each piece unique. For me, creation itself was always part of the story: carefully stitched lapels, visible details that celebrate craftsmanship, the time and care invested in every garment. Craftsmanship has always been the foundation of my brand. Patrick and I often talked about how we could continue to explore this passion in a new way. Venice, with its layers of living craftsmanship and the way you encounter masterful skills in everyday life, seemed like the perfect place. That’s how we began developing the idea of Fondazione Van Noten: a space to showcase and nurture the art of making in all its forms,” the designer explained to American Vogue.

Photo: Camilla Glorioso/ Courtesy of Dries Van Noten

In May 2025, Van Noten officially purchased one of Venice’s most impressive palaces, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, located on the Grand Canal, which is now becoming a new artistic address in the city. For the fashion designer, this marks an entirely new chapter, one we cannot wait to hear more about and experience in person after the opening scheduled for April 2026. “The starting point of our Fondazione is a space that embraces multiple disciplines and voices. I have always loved combining contrasts in fashion, street and couture, ethnic and historical, to create a harmonious whole. We also want to broaden perspectives beyond the obvious ‘best’ artisans or students. The middle group, overlooked, experimental, or working with different people, age groups, and approaches, keeps the process adventurous and full of surprises. We have many ideas,” Van Noten announced to Vogue.