Fortezza da Basso in Florence will host the solo exhibition “Tim Burton: Light and Darkness,” conceived exclusively for the 15th Florence Biennale. Running from 18 to 26 October 2025, the project is curated by Sarah Brown in collaboration with Burton and connects directly to the Biennale’s theme, “The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness. Concepts of Dualism and Unity in Contemporary Art and Design.” The exhibition is a central feature of this year’s edition, reflecting the dualities that have always defined Burton’s creative universe.
Burton chose the title personally, underlining the tension that has always defined his creative universe. His career stands on the delicate balance between dream and nightmare, irony and melancholy, playfulness and fear. This interplay has made him a singular figure in contemporary visual culture, creating works that resonate with mass audiences while retaining a deeply personal voice.
Brown describes Burton’s practice as multifaceted: illustrator, painter, photographer, and author. His projects extend beyond the screen into record-breaking exhibitions and celebrated publications. She notes how his creations consistently address opposing forces – light and dark, good and evil, order and chaos – each defined by its counterpart. For visitors, the exhibition offers a direct encounter with this duality through more than fifty works including familiar and unseen creations.
The exhibition unfolds across five rooms. It begins with an installation of drawings, albums, and notebooks personally selected by Burton. Among the opening pieces, three resin creatures stand under dramatic lighting, accompanied by lenticular works such as “Perspecto” and “Blue Girl with Wine.” Interactive “3D looking glasses” add a participatory dimension, sharpening the surreal distortions of the images.
Visitors then enter the “Carousel Room,” an immersive space with UV lighting and multicolored sets built in the United States. At its center, Burton’s carousel spins within a fluorescent dreamscape. Another standout feature includes a neon sign replica designed by Burton, echoing American popular culture and recalling the original now housed in the Neon Museum in Las Vegas. This object bridges nostalgia and invention, transforming familiar imagery into something unexpected.
The final sections revisit Burton’s filmography. A dedicated room honors the 20th anniversary of “Corpse Bride,” presenting an original drawing, together with authentic Victor and Emily models supplied by Mackinnon and Saunders, both as interior skeletons and screen-ready puppets. Additional displays include sketches from “Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Alongside these celebrated works, a space honors lesser-known figures from his illustrated book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories, such as Oyster Boy, Stain Boy, Robot Boy, and Toxic Boy. Through drawings, sculptures, and projections, these fragile characters reveal Burton’s intimate, gothic fairy-tale sensibility.
The exhibition concludes with a small screening room, bringing the experience back to Burton’s cinematic roots. Here, audiences can reflect on how his visual vocabulary connects across media, bridging illustration, sculpture, installation, and film.
On 21 October at 5 p.m., Burton will personally attend the Biennale’s award ceremony at the Spadolini Pavilion, Fortezza da Basso, to receive the Lorenzo il Magnifico Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor acknowledges his influence on visual culture, both through cinema and through a broader artistic vision.
Event: 15th Florence Biennale
When: 18 to 26 October 2025
Opening Hours: Saturday 18 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., all other days from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed on Monday 20
Venue: Fortezza da Basso – Florence
