Italian Gallerist Tommaso Calabro Closes Milan and Venice Exhibition Spaces

Tommaso Calabro, a prominent Italian gallerist, has decided to close both his Milan and Venice gallery locations. The closures come after eight years of operation, with the Milan gallery having opened in 2018. Calabro, born in Feltre in 1990, began his career at age 26 by directing the Nahmad gallery in London after completing studies at Bocconi University and postgraduate programs at Courtauld Institute and Kings College. He returned to Italy and established a significant Milan gallery space in Piazza San Sepolcro, which featured over 300 square meters within Palazzo Marietti. The program there included exhibitions paying homage to historical gallerists like Alexander Iolas and Carlo Cardazzo. After five years, the Piazza San Sepolcro space was sold by its owners, forcing Calabro to relocate to Corso Italia in Milan, where he continued presenting high-quality exhibitions, including a recent show exploring Leonor Fini's relationship with theater. In spring 2024, coinciding with that year's Venice Biennale, Calabro opened a second gallery in Venice at Palazzo Donà Brusà in Campo San Polo. The decision to close both venues reportedly relates to an unexciting art market, a perceived lack of original ideas, and a desire to pursue other endeavors. Calabro has reflected that repeating exhibitions of the same artist indicates diminished creative inspiration. At 36, he identifies primarily as a collector and may explore roles as an independent dealer, curator, or other art-related activities following the closures.