Maurizio Cattelan will conceive and orchestrate RenBen 2026, taking place in Chicago on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, during Chicago’s EXPO Art Week.
The Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Renaissance Society to co-host a private dinner celebrating internationally renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, who will conceive and orchestrate RenBen 2026, taking place in Chicago on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, during Chicago’s EXPO Art Week.
Known for his provocative and darkly humorous approach to contemporary art, Cattelan has spent four decades creating works that spark conversation, to say the least. From his infamous solid gold toilet, America (2016), to his hyper realist sculptures, Cattelan’s work consistently captivates audiences while questioning authority, religion, celebrity, and the art world itself.
RenBen is the Renaissance Society’s annual artist-centered gala and the institution’s most important fundraising event, vital to sustaining its experimental exhibitions and programs throughout the year. Each edition invites a single artist to design every aspect of the evening, from the space and performances to the food and choreography. For RenBen 2026, Cattelan will draw on his established signature forms of playful inversion, surprise, and surrealist elegance. Guests can expect his subversive wit and theatrical sensibility. “BEING AN ARTIST IS NOT A JOB, IT’S A MALFUNCTION,” he shared.
In the lead-up to the main event, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Renaissance Society will welcome artists and leaders from Chicago’s arts community for an evening of celebration and conversation. The gathering will feature an Italian-inspired menu specially created for the occasion by Chef Jason Hammel, Executive Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe.
“It is an honor to welcome Maurizio Cattelan to Chicago on such an important occasion and to collaborate with the Renaissance Society in creating meaningful spaces for community engagement through the arts,” says Chiara Avanzato, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago. “Our goal is to continue fostering cultural exchange between Italian and local creatives by providing platforms that inspire the development of new and innovative ideas and practices.”
“The partnership with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago feels especially fitting for this year’s RenBen,” says Myriam Ben Salah, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Renaissance Society. “Maurizio Cattelan is one of the most significant artists working today, and his vision for the Silent Party is rooted in the same spirit of irreverence and invention that has defined his practice for decades. Having the IIC’s support allows us to deepen the cultural exchange at the heart of this event—and to celebrate an Italian artist whose work continues to challenge, provoke, and delight audiences around the world.”
All proceeds from RenBen 2026 support the Renaissance Society’s program of exhibitions, Intermissions, concerts, public programs, and publications—all free and open to the public.
Ph. © Maurizio Cattelan. Photo by Alberto Zanetti. Courtesy of the Renaissance Society, Chicago.
