Zegna has revealed a global multiyear partnership with Art Basel, marking a significant new chapter in the Italian brand’s long-standing dedication to contemporary art and cultural dialogue.

The collaboration reinforces Zegna’s commitment to supporting artists and artistic institutions that explore the intersection of creativity, community and nature. Zegna has supported Art Basel before, but in a smaller capacity.

Art has always been an essential part of Zegna’s identity. The company’s relationship with art was first envisioned by its founder, Ermenegildo Zegna, who believed art and beauty should serve as daily sources of inspiration. As a way to give back to the territory that shaped him, in the 1920s, he began commissioning local artists, including Ettore Olivero Pistoletto and Otto Maraini to enrich the town of Trivero and the original wool mill at the heart of what is today known as Oasi Zegna, a territory in the Italian Alps. These weren’t just decorative gestures — they were expressions of a vision that industry could coexist with beauty, that a factory could become a place of culture. Monumental staircases, fountains, friezes and portraits quietly transformed the Oasi Zegna landscape into a living museum, according to the company.

Over the decades, this vision has evolved. Zegna continued to commission site-specific public artworks by artists such as Daniel Buren, Dan Graham and Roman Signer, each chosen not for their fame, but for their ability to interpret the Zegna world in an authentic way. Globally, Zegna has invited artists such as Graham Sutherland, Not Vital and Kiki Smith to create bespoke wool trophies, symbolizing the brand’s legacy in textile innovation.

Art is also present throughout Zegna’s spaces: in its Milan headquarters, the work “Woolen — the Reinstated Apple” by Michelangelo Pistoletto recognizes the authenticity of Zegna’s partners, and the sustainable roots of its wool installations by William Kentridge, Mimmo Jodie and Ettore Spalletti can be found in Zegna stores around the world.

The partnership with Art Basel marks a pivotal moment for the luxury brand, offering a global platform to celebrate art that resonates with Zegna’s values of environmental stewardship, cultural consciousness and social engagement.

As an official partner, Zegna will be present across all four Art Basel fairs — Basel, Miami Beach, Paris and Hong Kong — and will create curated experiences that spark dialogue between art, design and responsible entrepreneurship. At the center of this collaboration is “Visible,” a project initiated by Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto and Fondazione Zegna, which supports socially engaged artistic practices through a pioneering fellowship model.

To strengthen the artistic dimension of the initiative and reinforce the partnership with Art Basel, Vincenzo De Bellis, Art Basel director, fairs and exhibition platforms, will join the “Visible” steering committee.

“I’m honored to join the ‘Visible’ steering committee and deepen our shared commitment to art as a driver of social and environmental change. Through this partnership with Zegna and Cittadellarte — Fondazione Pistoletto, we’re supporting artists who use their practice to address today’s most urgent challenges and shape more resilient futures,” said De Bellis.

Gildo Zegna, chairman and chief executive officer of Ermenegildo Zegna Group, said, “For over a century, our family has believed in the power of art to elevate places, enrich lives and shape culture. This partnership with Art Basel and Cittadellare is a natural evolution of that belief — a way to honor our legacy while looking forward. At Zegna, we see art not as embellishment, but as an agent of change. By supporting socially engaged artists through the ‘Visible’ project, we’re reinforcing our commitment to a future where creativity, community and responsibility can thrive together.”

“Visible” is not a recent innovation, it is rooted in a deep generational bond. Michelangelo Pistoletto’s father, Ettore Olivero Pistoletto, was among the first artists commissioned by Ermenegildo Zegna. That early connection laid the foundation for a shared belief that art should not be confined to traditionally dedicated spaces, but embedded in places where life happens.

Next month during Art Basel in Basel, Zegna will present the recipients of the 2025 Visible Situated Fellowships, spotlighting artists and collectives across the world who use their work to address today’s most urgent environmental and social challenges. The evening will also serve as a tribute to Michelangelo Pistoletto and his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrating a lifetime dedicated to art as a catalyst for societal transformation.

As part of the partnership, Zegna will distribute limited-edition tote bags to mark the occasion, bringing Zegna and “Visible” to a new audience.