Lucca Biennale Cartasia

A unique biennial dedicated to the art of paper

The Lucca Biennale Cartasia, also known by the acronym LuBiCa, is the largest international event dedicated to paper as a form of artistic, architectural, and design expression. Founded in 2004, it takes place in Lucca, in the heart of Tuscany, and has established itself as a landmark event for artists, architects, and designers worldwide who choose paper as their primary medium.

Each edition turns the historic center of Lucca into a sprawling gallery: monumental paper sculptures are installed in public squares, along the famous Renaissance City Walls, and in front of iconic landmarks like the façade of the Church of San Michele in Foro. After the event, many outdoor works become part of the permanent collection housed within the bastions of the Walls, leaving a lasting mark on the city's landscape.

A journey through art, architecture, and sustainability

Since its inception, LuBiCa has promoted a dialogue between paper tradition, culture, sustainability, and innovation. Paper—a humble, fragile, and recyclable material—becomes a metaphor for lightness and environmental responsibility, focusing on the search for new creative languages.

The event is divided into several sections: an outdoor component featuring large installations in public spaces, an indoor component with thematic exhibitions, and sections dedicated to fashion, performance, architecture, and design, as well as a program of artist residencies and workshops aimed at an under-35 audience. The program also includes talks, author meet-and-greets, and an off section spread throughout the city.

The "Real | Unreal" theme

The upcoming thirteenth edition revolves around the theme "Real | Unreal": an invitation to explore the fragile boundary between what we perceive as real and what belongs to dreams, imagination, and artificial constructs. The theme reflects on how digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and media narratives continuously redefine our perception of reality, questioning how much of what we consider true is actually a cultural construct.

Lucca, the city of paper

It is no coincidence that this biennial chose Lucca: the Lucchese territory, particularly the Serchio Valley and the Capannori area, has been one of Europe's most important paper-making districts for centuries. The event thus celebrates the productive and cultural identity of the Municipality of Lucca and the entire Province of Lucca in Tuscany, intertwining industrial heritage with contemporary art.

For visitors, LuBiCa is the perfect opportunity to discover Lucca in a new light: walking along the Walls and through the streets of the historic center means encountering spectacular works, participating in hands-on workshops, and being surprised by a material that is as common as it is poetic.