Barry X Ball: The Shape of Time / Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (Italy)

“The Shape of Time” is a major survey exhibition dedicated to the sculptural practice of Barry X Ball. It presents the artist’s distinctive method of combining advanced digital technologies with traditional craftsmanship to reinterpret historical masterpieces in new materials and forms.

The exhibition is thoughtfully installed in the historic Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore on its island in the Venice Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This sacred venue aligns with the Benedictine community’s long-standing mission—established on the island since 982 AD—to preserve and promote artistic, historical, and spiritual heritage.

Curated by Bob Nickas, the show features twenty-three works by Barry X Ball, the majority of which are being shown to the public for the first time. The pieces are drawn from five distinct series and placed in carefully selected locations throughout the basilica.

Highlights include two monumental Portrait Sculptures in the Choir, such as the signature Papal Portrait in solid silver and 18K gold; three recent Buddha sculptures in the Sacristy; ten works from the Medardo Rosso Project in the connecting corridor, alongside additional pieces in the Sacristy and transept; three large-scale Masterpieces—including reinterpretations of Michelangelo’s Pietà and Marco d’Agrate’s Saint Bartholomew—in the Nave and Transept; and selected Early and Late Works, such as the 1982–83 Largen 1 and the new sculpture The Word, inspired by the Lindau Gospels.

Barry X Ball: The Shape of Time / Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (Italy). May 5, 2026.