Italian Galleries to Discover at Artissima
The 2014 Artissima art fair presents an opportunity for commercial galleries in Italy to show within an international context but on their own soil. This year’s fair will host around 190 galleries in its main exhibition center, spread over four categories: Main; New Entries (for young galleries); Back to the Future (for galleries presenting works from previous generations); and Present Future (for galleries showing works by promising emerging artists). Here, Artsy’s Rome-based contributor Mike Watson previews some of the most promising booths by Italian exhibitors:
Founded by Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi, and Maurizio Rigillo in 1990, Galleria Continua will show recent works by artists who have exhibited in one of its three galleries. Artists on view include Hans Op de Beeck, Antony Gormley, Sabrina Mezzaqui, Pascale Marthine Tayou, and Jorge Macchi—who currently has a solo show at the gallery’s San Gimignano space in Tuscany.
Federica Schiavo has been selected by the committee of the Present Future section to present a solo project by Karthik Pandian. The Los Angeles-born artist will present works from his current show at the Rome-based gallery, entitled “Snails and Oysters,”as well as a new sculptural work placed in the center of the booth—on a round revolving platform—which was first realized in Paris for Pandian’s solo show at Bétonsalon, titled “Confessions.”
Lia Rumma, established in Naples in 1971 and currently based in Milan and Naples, will be showing a selection of artists from the gallery’s roster—which includes artists within 1970s artistic movements such as Arte Povera and conceptual art. Artists with works on view include Marzia Migliora, William Kentridge, Marina Abramović, Domenico Antonio Mancini, Michele Guido, Joseph Kosuth, Luca Monterastelli, Thomas Ruff, and Ettore Spalletti.
Brand New Gallery, the Milan-based gallery founded in 2010, will present “Three Colors: Blue, White and Red, Homage to Krzysztof Kieślowski, Act 2,” the second part of a cycle initiated at (Off)icielle, FIAC. Artists include: Martin Basher, Alain Biltereyst, Steven Cox, Chris Duncan, Gabriel Hartley, John Knuth, Brian Kokoska, James Krone, Joe Reihsen, Donna Huanca, and Keith J. Varadi.
Galleria Lorcan O’Neill will show artists who they currently represent including Celia Hempton, who will be showing a site-specific wall painting together with new works; new and historic works from Giorgio Griffa, who is currently showing in their Rome-based gallery; Eddie Peake,who will open a solo show there in January 2015; Prem Sahib; and Kiki Smith.
Prometeogallery, based in Milan and Lucca, will show an assemblage by Jannis Kounellis, together with photographic documentation of performances by Maria José Arjona, a light box by Fabrizio Cotognini, and photographic prints by Santiago Sierra and Regina José Galindo.
