Artissima director Luigi Fassi on fairs as cultural institutions

In an interview with Artribune, Luigi Fassi, director of Artissima, discusses the 33rd edition of the fair, themed "Fancy: A Flexible, Acrobatic Body" inspired by Martha Nussbaum. He argues that art fairs must evolve into cultural institutions, balancing market and cultural value. The fair features 33 first-time galleries, a strict selection process, and partnerships with museums like Castello di Rivoli and GAM, supported by a €300,000 budget from Fondazione Arte CRT for acquisitions. Fassi emphasizes that Artissima refuses to become a generalist fair, instead focusing on emerging artists and curatorial dialogue. He notes that other fairs have sought to emulate Artissima's model.