Last month, the art world descended on Venice to celebrate the week long launch of 58th Biennale of Art. Set across the back drop of Venice, the Biennale is a visual feast of new and old art, requiring an almost athletic ability to navigate innumerable exhibitions and social occasions. From private dinners at grand palazzos and heaving nights on the terrace at the Bauer Hotel, Venice, for this moment, takes a nod to its past as the cultural link to the East and West, and a stronghold of the artistic community.
Arts insider and Communications Collective director, Genevieve Brannigan, takes us inside one of the most significant events on the arts calendar. The 2019 Venice Biennale, May You Live In Interesting Times, will run until November 24, 2019.
![Processed with VSCO with f2 preset](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Arriving-to-a-washed-out-Venice.jpg)
"Arriving to a washed out Venice."
![Exploring Venice by boat .EDITjpg](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Exploring-Venice-by-boat-.EDITjpg.jpg)
"Exploring Venice by boat."
![art everywhere, pic Josh Black](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/art-everywhere-pic-Josh-Black.jpg)
"Art everywhere, [photography] Josh Black."
![Processed with VSCO with g3 preset](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fenice-Opera-House-pic-Genevieve-Brannigan.jpg)
"Venice Opera House."
![Flower power at the Hotel Danielle Vencie_CROP](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Flower-power-at-the-Hotel-Danielle-Vencie_CROP.jpg)
"Flower power at the Hotel Danielle Venice."
![Midnight in Venice.EDITjpg](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Midnight-in-Venice.EDITjpg.jpg)
"Midnight in Venice."
![New Art & Old art, fragile future 3 by Studio DriftEDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/New-Art-Old-art-fragile-future-3-by-Studio-DriftEDIT.jpg)
"New art and old art, Fragile Future III by Studio Drift."
![Dreamy moments in Venice. EDITjpg](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Dreamy-moments-in-Venice.-EDITjpg.jpg)
"Dreamy moments in Venice."
![Beaded curtain by Felix Gonzalez at Palazzo Grassi pic Genevieve B](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Beaded-curtain-by-Felix-Gonzalez-at-Palazzo-Grassi-pic-Genevieve-B.jpg)
"Beaded curtain by Felix Gonzalez at Palazzo Grassi."
![Hotel Danelli EDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hotel-Danelli-EDIT.jpg)
"Hotel Danelli."
![James Lee Byars PICtureJerome Sans EDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/James-Lee-Byars-PICtureJerome-Sans-EDIT.jpg)
"James Lee Byars, [photography] Jerome Sans."
![Hotel rooms became the location for many of the best art parties](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hotel-rooms-became-the-location-for-many-of-the-best-art-parties.jpg)
"Hotel rooms became the location for many of the best art parties."
![New York artist Martine Gutierrez self potrait 'Body en Thrall'. pic Jermone EDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/New-York-artist-Martine-Gutierrez-self-potrait-Body-en-Thrall.-pic-Jermone-EDIT.jpg)
"New York artist Martine Gutierrez's self portrait Body en Thrall. [Photography] Jermone Sans."
![New York artist Martine Gutierrez in front of her work pic Jermone Sans EDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/New-York-artist-Martine-Gutierrez-in-front-of-her-work-pic-Jermone-Sans-EDIT.jpg)
"New York artist Martine Gutierrez in front of her work, [photography] Jermone Sans."
![pre party](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/pre-party-.jpg)
"Pre party."
![self serve bar at Hauser and Wirth party](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/self-serve-bar-at-Hauser-and-Wirth-party.jpg)
"Self serve bar at Hauser and Wirth party."
![Processed with VSCO with m5 preset](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Polizia-di-Stato-guarding-the-banks-of-the-arsenale-pic-Genevieve-B.jpg)
"Polizia di Stato guarding the banks of the arsenale."
![Martine Gutierrez Image Josh BlackEDIT](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Martine-Gutierrez-Image-Josh-BlackEDIT.jpg)
"Martine Gutierrez, [photography] Josh Black."
![Saint Marks Square at night.pic Genevieve Bjpg](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Saint-Marks-Square-at-night.pic-Genevieve-Bjpg.jpg)
"Saint Marks Square at night. Pic Genevieve B."
![Processed with VSCO with c1 preset](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Self-portrait-Japanese-artist-Mari-Kataysms-PIC-gENEVEVE-BJPG.jpg)
"Self portrait, Japanese artist Mari Kataysms."
![The handpainted ceilings of a private plazzo in Vencie pic genevieve brannigan](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-handpainted-ceilings-of-a-private-plazzo-in-Vencie-pic-genevieve-brannigan.jpg)
"The hand painted ceilings of a private palazzo in Venice."
![much needed pitstop pic Genevieve b](https://www.russh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/much-needed-pitstop-pic-Genevieve-b.jpg)
"Much needed pitstop."