A Living Gallery: Jeff Robb’s “Serenissima” Reimagines Hotel Art at Avani Rio Novo Venice

In the heart of Venice’s Dorsoduro district, where canal-side cafés and modern galleries meet centuries-old charm, Avani Rio Novo Venice is quietly redefining the hotel art experience. The sleek, design-forward property has unveiled Serenissima, a captivating new exhibition by British artist Jeff Robb, in collaboration with Cris Contini Contemporary. But don’t expect white walls and hushed rooms; this is art woven into the rhythm of daily life.

From now through November 14, 2025, guests and visitors alike can discover Robb’s ethereal world across the hotel’s shared spaces. A pioneer of lenticular photography, Robb crafts images that shift and shimmer as the viewer moves, illusions that blur the boundary between physical space and emotional perception. Serenissima is not just an exhibition; it’s a multi-sensory journey through femininity, nature, and the unseen.

Each corner of the hotel becomes part of the narrative. In the breakfast room, classical still-life forms are reimagined with modern flair. A quiet hallway pulses with surreal tulips from Robb’s Rorschach Flower series, revealing hidden faces and fleeting shapes. Feminine silhouettes hover like apparitions through the restaurant and meeting rooms, adding a layer of mystery and intimacy to the surroundings. Outside in the garden, the mirrored sculpture Affinity catches sunlight and foliage alike, offering guests a moment of reflection, quite literally.

“Jeff’s work speaks to the spirit of Venice, timeless yet constantly shifting,” says gallerist Cristian Contini. “This exhibition isn’t just viewed, it’s felt. It engages with the space and the people within it.”

With its clean lines, 144 contemporary rooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Venetian life in motion, Avani Rio Novo has always balanced modernity with a sense of place. Now, with Serenissima, it positions itself not just as a place to stay but as a cultural touchpoint, where art lives not on pedestals but in passing moments and quiet discoveries.