--- title: illycaffè unveils in Venice the new illy Art Collection ‘In minor Keys’ dedicated to the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia description: "Cups created by Alice Maher, Werewere Liking, Thania Petersen, and Mohammed Z. Rahman feature in an installation on display at the illy Caffé in the Royal Gardens until May 9.\nGiant replicas of the cups paraded through the Venetian canals, bringing art into dialogue with the city in an original and evocative way." image: https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/Featured_1200x630_1-Sep-07-2026-03-10-13-9805-PM.webp --- [![Logo illy](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/143450854/illy_pressroom/logo-illy.svg)](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/) [![Certificazione BCorp](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/143450854/illy_pressroom/b-certified-corporation.svg)](https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/) [PRESS ROOM](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/) [![Logo illy](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/143450854/illy_pressroom/logo-illy.svg)](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/) [![Certificazione BCorp](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/143450854/illy_pressroom/b-certified-corporation.svg)](https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/) [PRESS ROOM](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/) - [Press Releases](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases) - Archive - [2026](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/tag/2026) - [2025](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/tag/2025) - [Contacts](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/contacts) - [ILLY.COM](https://illy.com) More results ![](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/magazine-2026/footer/flag-en.svg) En - English - [Italiano](https://pressroom.illy.com/it/comunicati-stampa/illycaffe-presenta-a-venezia-la-nuova-illy-art-collection-in-minor-keys-dedicata-alla-61.-esposizione-internazionale-darte-la-biennale-di-venezia) - [Comunicati stampa](https://pressroom.illy.com/it/comunicati-stampa) - Archivio - [2026](https://pressroom.illy.com/it/comunicati-stampa/tag/2026) - [2025](https://pressroom.illy.com/it/comunicati-stampa/tag/2025) - [Contatti](https://pressroom.illy.com/it/contatti) - [ILLY.COM](https://illy.com) # illycaffè unveils in Venice the new illy Art Collection ‘In minor Keys’ dedicated to the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia May 7, 2026 **Venice, May 7, 2026** – **illycaffè**, **main sponsor of the 2026 Biennale Arte**, presents in Venice its latest **illy Art Collection**, interpreting the theme of the event “**In Minor Keys**”, chosen by Koyo Kouoh. Four world-renowned artists from three different generations and diverse cultural backgrounds – the Irish **Alice Maher,** the Cameroonian **Werewere Liking,** the South African **Thania Petersen** and the British Bengali **Mohammed Z. Rahman** – have explored the subtle dialogue between art and everyday life, transforming an everyday object like the coffee cup into a space for storytelling, memory, and imagination. **illycaffè CEO, Cristina Scocchia**, during the presentation event for the collection—which was attended, among others, by **the artists, the curators, Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco -** stated: “W*e are delighted to be the main sponsor of the Biennale Arte, a commitment we have carried forward with passion since 2003. This year as well, we wanted to demonstrate our support for the event by dedicating an exclusive collection of cups to it. The illy Art Collection ‘In minor keys’ celebrates the ability of art to enter everyday life, bringing new emotions. The collaboration with the four artists of different generations and cultures who signed the collection has been a source of growth and inspiration for us, and Venice is the ideal stage to present this creative symphony*”. The new collection was unveiled in preview at the **illy Caffé in the Royal Gardens next to Piazza San Marco**. The iconic cups took center stage thanks to **four installations**, each in a different color, reflecting the worlds and atmospheres of the artists. An explanatory totem, located at the entrance to space, illustrates the concept and the story behind the creation, offering the public an in-depth look at the project. The installation will remain on display at the entrance of the illy café **throughout all the days of the Biennale Arte's vernissage**, allowing visitors to discover the new illy Art Collection. The presentation of the illy Art Collection was enhanced by the **performance featuring oversized cups** handcrafted by master artisans. These cups traveled along the Venetian canals before being placed at Riva Ca’ di Dio, creating an installation that will be on display to the public until **May 10**. This year, the majestic floating cup replicas became a reality: after the digital activation two years ago—when an image created with artificial intelligence made the rounds on the web—this edition of the Biennale Arte saw that virtual illusion transformed into a tangible presence. The illy Art Collection is available in the illy e-shop, in stores (illy Caffè and illy Shop), in retail distribution channels, and in indirect e-commerce channels. Select the file to download [ITA-PDF](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/Comunicato%20stampa%20illycaffe%20presenta%20a%20Venezia%20la%20nuova%20iAC%20In%20Minor%20Keys.docx) [ENG-PDF](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/Press%20release%20illycaffe%20presents%20in%20Venice%20the%20new%20illy%20Art%20Collection%20In%20Minor%20Keys.docx) \*\*\* illycaffè An Italian family-owned company founded in Trieste in 1933, illycaffè has always pursued the mission of offering the best coffee in the world. It produces a unique 100% Arabica blend made from 9 different ingredients. Every day, more than 10 million cups of illy coffee are enjoyed in cafés, restaurants, hotels, single-brand cafés, homes and offices in over 140 countries, where the company is present through subsidiaries and distributors. Since its foundation, illycaffè has oriented its strategies towards a sustainable business model, a commitment it strengthened in 2019 by adopting the status of Benefit Corporation and in 2021 by becoming the first Italian coffee company to obtain international B Corp certification. Everything “made in illy” is enriched by beauty and art, starting with the logo designed by James Rosenquist, the illy Art Collection, the cups decorated by more than 135 international artists, and the coffee machines designed by internationally renowned designers. With the aim of spreading a culture of quality among growers, baristas and coffee lovers, the company developed its Università del Caffè, which today offers courses in 24 countries around the world. In 2025, illycaffè generated consolidated revenues of €700 million.  Share this [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/illycaffe-unveils-in-venice-the-new-illy-art-collection-in-minor-keys-dedicated-to-the-61st-international-art-exhibition-la-biennale-di-venezia&text=illycaff%26egrave%3B+unveils+in+Venice+the+new+illy+Art+Collection+%26lsquo%3BIn+minor+Keys%26rsquo%3B+dedicated+to+the+61st+International+Art+Exhibition+%26ndash%3B+La+Biennale+di+Venezia) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/illycaffe-unveils-in-venice-the-new-illy-art-collection-in-minor-keys-dedicated-to-the-61st-international-art-exhibition-la-biennale-di-venezia&t=illycaff%26egrave%3B+unveils+in+Venice+the+new+illy+Art+Collection+%26lsquo%3BIn+minor+Keys%26rsquo%3B+dedicated+to+the+61st+International+Art+Exhibition+%26ndash%3B+La+Biennale+di+Venezia) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/illycaffe-unveils-in-venice-the-new-illy-art-collection-in-minor-keys-dedicated-to-the-61st-international-art-exhibition-la-biennale-di-venezia&t=illycaff%26egrave%3B+unveils+in+Venice+the+new+illy+Art+Collection+%26lsquo%3BIn+minor+Keys%26rsquo%3B+dedicated+to+the+61st+International+Art+Exhibition+%26ndash%3B+La+Biennale+di+Venezia) [Share on Email](mailto:?subject=illycaff%26egrave%3B+unveils+in+Venice+the+new+illy+Art+Collection+%26lsquo%3BIn+minor+Keys%26rsquo%3B+dedicated+to+the+61st+International+Art+Exhibition+%26ndash%3B+La+Biennale+di+Venezia&body=https%3A%2F%2Fpressroom.illy.com%2Fen%2Fpress-releases%2Fillycaffe-unveils-in-venice-the-new-illy-art-collection-in-minor-keys-dedicated-to-the-61st-international-art-exhibition-la-biennale-di-venezia) Share on Copia link ## Immagini [![illy Art Collection Artists](https://pressroom.illy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/illy%20Art%20Collection%20Artists.jpg?width=8192&height=5464&name=illy%20Art%20Collection%20Artists.jpg)](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/illy%20Art%20Collection%20Artists.jpg) [![Giant cups illy in Venice](https://pressroom.illy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Giant%20cups%20illy%20in%20Venice.jpg?width=4108&height=2739&name=Giant%20cups%20illy%20in%20Venice.jpg)](https://pressroom.illy.com/hubfs/Giant%20cups%20illy%20in%20Venice.jpg) ### You May Also Like ### [illycaffè at Art Basel Paris: an ideal bridge between Venice and Paris in the name of contemporary art](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/illycaffè-ad-art-basel-paris-un-ponte-ideale-tra-venezia-e-parigi-nel-segno-dellarte-contemporanea) [Read more](https://pressroom.illy.com/en/press-releases/illycaffè-ad-art-basel-paris-un-ponte-ideale-tra-venezia-e-parigi-nel-segno-dellarte-contemporanea) ### [illycaffè unveils the new illy Art Collection at Biennale Arte 2026 signed by Alice Maher, Werewere Liking, Thania Petersen and Mohammed Z. 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