From August 3 to 16, 2026, the Officine di Forte Marghera in Metropolitan Venice will host Erotica II – Erotic Photography Biennale, one of Italy’s leading exhibitions dedicated to fine art photography exploring eroticism and the representation of the human body. Curated by Ivana Galli and Stefano Questorio, the exhibition brings together 71 contemporary photographers from diverse artistic backgrounds, presenting more than 350 photographs.
The exhibition offers a journey through more than a century of photographic history, placing contemporary artists in dialogue with the great masters who helped redefine the language of erotic photography. These include Wilhelm von Gloeden, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, André Kertész, Irving Klaw, Richard Avedon, Francesca Woodman, Robert Mapplethorpe, and, more recently, Nan Goldin, Antoine d’Agata, and Ren Hang.
Rather than simply presenting images of nudity or sensuality, the project invites visitors to reflect on the evolving perception of the human body and desire. The works are arranged chronologically, guiding audiences through different historical periods and illustrating how social, cultural, and historical changes have transformed both the representation of eroticism and the perception of sexuality.
The exhibition’s title references the mythological figure of Eros, whose golden and leaden arrows symbolize the dual nature of desire—attraction and rejection, passion and distance. This metaphor introduces the exhibition’s central theme: an artistic language that, despite its long and distinguished history, continues to face censorship and restrictions, particularly in the age of digital platforms.
As the curators explain, erotic photography has often been relegated to the margins of the art world, confined to what has traditionally been considered “obscene”—literally, that which remains “off stage.” Erotica II seeks to restore this photographic genre to the center of cultural debate, highlighting its ability to explore desire, identity, vulnerability, and freedom of expression through a wide variety of aesthetic approaches.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to attend a rich program of talks, lectures, panel discussions, and live demonstrations featuring artists and curators, providing further opportunities to explore the relationship between contemporary photography, the human body, and society.
Among the 71 participating photographers are numerous Italian and international artists, including Osvaldo Sponzilli, together with Alberto Colognato, Alessandra Pace, Andrea Pozza, Marco Gualdoni, Michael Weinberg, Nicole Santin, Patrick Morini, Renata Petti, Roberto Zaninelli, Sarah Cioffoletti, Sven Van Driessche, and many other leading figures in contemporary photography.
The official vernissage will take place on Friday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public from August 3 to 16, daily from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with additional opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Special openings outside regular hours will also be available by appointment.
Visitor Information
Erotica II – Erotic Photography Biennale
Dates: August 3–16, 2026
Venue: Officine Forte Marghera – Building C32
Via Forte Marghera 30
Metropolitan Venice, Italy
Opening Hours:
Daily: 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, and 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Special openings by appointment.
For updates on the schedule of talks and special events, follow Erotica Biennale Foto on Facebook and Instagram, or contact the press office at infoeroticafoto@gmail.com.
Osvaldo Sponzilli is a photographer and European reporter certified by the EU Wrep Register (wrep.eu – Web Reporter & Creator Blockchain Registry), with a worldview shaped by decades of professional activity and research.
His multidisciplinary background — as a physician, researcher, university lecturer, and scholar of fields ranging from traditional to non-conventional medicine — has refined a deeply analytical perspective on reality, which he brings into his photographic work with the same scientific rigor and human sensitivity that define his career.
Over time, his passion for photography has become a parallel language, capable of expressing what the written word cannot always capture. A passion he has also passed on to his daughters: Laura, a versatile photographer who has worked in still life, sports, and wedding photography, served as a producer at EDI, a film post-production company, and now expresses her creativity as an artisan; and Giada, who, after attending prestigious film schools in New York, Cuba, and London, lives and works in the British capital as a director of photography and event videomaker.
A contributor to various publications, he also appears on television and radio programs and has more than 100 publications to his name. Throughout his career, he has served as a trusted physician to prominent figures in Italian culture, entertainment, and politics.