An American In Venice

GUGLIELMO DE MICHELI FOR TIME

WORLD POWER: Krens' campaign to make the Guggenheim a global brand hit a wall

The crowds that have come to Venice for the Biennale seem a little dazed by the sun and heat — it's 36C in the lush gardens of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and everybody is wearing linen shorts, T shirts and sandals. Everybody, that is, except the mountainous man striding through the gardens in his dark suit and tie. Thomas Krens is hard to miss in any setting; in Venice, he attracts knowing glances from the art world crowd. Even at the Biennale, a premier event on the international art calendar, the big American may be the biggest show in...

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