Daniela Bigi Elected Director of Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo
Daniela Bigi, who has served as a contemporary art professor and art historian at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo since 1997, has been appointed as the new director with overwhelming support from the Academic Council, receiving votes from all 94 faculty members. Her term will commence on November 1, 2026, following Umberto De Paola, whose tenure concludes on October 31. Bigi envisions transforming the Academy into a vibrant center for contemporary culture, particularly focusing on the Sacro Cuore complex. She earned her degree from La Sapienza University of Rome, co-directs Arte e Critica, and has organized events such as "Gabriella Ciancimino. In Liberty We Trust" for Manifesta 12, collaborating with numerous artists and institutions throughout her career.
Key facts
- Daniela Bigi elected director of Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo
- Election approved by 94 voting faculty members
- Appointment effective November 1, 2026
- Succeeds Umberto De Paola after his second term
- Bigi has taught at the Academy since 1997
- Academy recently acquired Sacro Cuore complex
- Bigi co-directs Arte e Critica and ArteeCriticaCity
- Curated collateral event for Manifesta 12 in 2018
Entities
Artists
- Daniela Bigi
- Umberto De Paola
- Antonella Purpura
- Maurizio Calvesi
- Alberto Garutti
- William Kentridge
- Diego Perrone
- Cuoghi Corsello
- Richard Deacon
- Gabriella Ciancimino
- Farid Rakun
- Ettore Pignatelli Tagliavia Aragona
- Diego Pignatelli Tagliavia Aragona
- Paolo Caccianiga
- Lorenzo Teglies
- Vincenzo di Giovanni
Institutions
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo
- Università La Sapienza di Roma
- Arte e Critica
- ArteeCriticaCity
- Osservatorio Arti Visive
- Palazzo Riso
- Fondazione Puglisi Cosentino
- Fondazione Fiumara d'Arte
- Castello di Carini
- Palazzo Ziino
- C.o.C.A.
- Rizzuto Gallery
- L'Ascensore
- Manifesta 12
- Quadriennale d'Arte di Roma
- Treccani
- Gattopardo
- Giornale di Sicilia
- segno
- Fondazione Fiumara d’Arte
- C.o.C.A. di Modica
- L’Ascensore
- Quadriennale d’Arte di Roma
- rivista segno
- Arte e Critica City
- Ruangrupa
- Documenta 15
- Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Regia Università
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy
- Rome
- Sicily
- Modica
- Carini
- Ex complesso del Sacro Cuore
- Villa Pignatelli
Sources
- Artslife —
- Rivista Segno —
- segnonline —