Isaac Julien at Palazzo Te
Isaac Julien: All That Changes You. Metamorphosis 2025, at Pallazo Te
On the occasion of its 500th anniversary, Palazzo Te Foundation will host the world premiere of All That Changes You. Metamorphosis 2025, a new multi-screen film installation by artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien, on view from 4 October 2025 in Mantua, Italy.
Shot at Palazzo Te and starring Sheila Atim and Gwendoline Christie, the film reimagines Giulio Romano’s Renaissance masterpiece through themes of metamorphosis, philosophy, anthropology, and ecology. Moving from the Palazzo’s frescoed interiors to Charles Jencks’s Cosmic House in London and the Redwood forests of California, it unfolds as a journey across time and space. Developed in collaboration with Stefano Baia Curioni, Lorenzo Giusti, Isaac Julien and Mark Nash, the project offers a “more than human” perspective, drawing on recent philosophical and literary ideas to challenge dominant narratives and reimagine the future.
The installation will be presented in the newly restored spaces of Palazzo Te, marking one of the central events of the anniversary program.
Details:
Isaac Julien: All That Changes You. Metamorphosis 2025
Location: Pallazo Te, Mantua, Italy
On view from October 4th 2025 until May 31, 2026
ABOUT Isaac Julien
Sir Isaac Julien KBE RA (GB, 1960), a London-born filmmaker and installation artist, is celebrated for his groundbreaking approach to art, seamlessly merging film, dance, photography, music, theater, painting, and sculpture to craft compelling visual narratives through multi-screen film installations. Notably, his 1989 documentary-drama “Looking for Langston” and the Cannes Film Festival Semaine de la Critique prize-winning debut feature, “Young Soul Rebels” (1991), garnered critical acclaim on a global scale.
Julien’s international acclaim extends to prestigious solo exhibitions at prominent venues, including the Barnes Foundation, Smith College Museum of Art, and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. His works have graced the walls of renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Julien has made significant contributions to academia, holding key positions at institutions like the University of Arts London and Staatliche Hoscschule fur Gestaltung, Karlsruhe. His educational efforts were further recognized when he was awarded the James Robert Brudner ’83 Memorial Prize and delivered lectures at Yale University in 2016.
Isaac Julien’s dedication to the arts has earned him distinguished accolades, including The Royal Academy of Arts Charles Wollaston Award in 2017 and a knighthood as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Honours List in 2022. Furthermore, he was honored with the esteemed Kaiserring Goslar Award in 2022.
In April 2023, Tate Britain hosted a comprehensive survey show, presenting Isaac Julien’s illustrious career. This exhibition featured works spanning four decades, encompassing early films and expansive multi-screen installations that delve into the themes of global movement and history. It marked the first-ever presentation of Isaac Julien’s extensive body of work in the United Kingdom. Following its showcase at Tate Britain, the exhibition traveled to K21 in Düsseldorf, and later to Bonnefanten in Maastricht in 2024.
