Alexi Worth's 'Vortici' Exhibition at Gallerie d'Italia Naples Dialogues with Ancient Ceramics

The exhibition 'Vortici. Alexi Worth in dialogo con la ceramica antica' opened at Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, presenting nine paintings by American artist Alexi Worth alongside ancient Attic and Magna Graecia ceramics from the Caputi Collection. Curated by Silvia Gaspardo Moro and Richard Neer, the show explores the symposium ritual through a contemporary lens. Worth, born in New York in 1964, uses an airbrush with a limited palette of black and terracotta orange to depict hands holding cups and suspended gestures. His works directly reference the aesthetics of black and red figure Attic pottery. The exhibition runs from April 3 to July 5, 2026. Four vases from the Caputi Collection, dating from the 6th to 3rd centuries BC, occupy central positions in the galleries, mirroring their role in ancient Greek symposia. The Caputi Collection comprises over 500 pieces mostly excavated in the 19th century from Ruvo di Puglia (Bari), assembled by Archdeacon Giuseppe Caputi. Now owned by Intesa Sanpaolo, the collection is permanently displayed at Gallerie d'Italia. Michele Coppola, executive director of Arte, Cultura e Beni Storici at Intesa Sanpaolo, emphasized the collection's ongoing relevance through new interpretive approaches. Richard Neer highlighted how the exhibition visually and conceptually connects art with social context and human relationships across time.