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LIVING! Julian Beck pittore at RIPENSE, Rome: Julian Beck's Abstract Expressionist Paintings Before the Living Theatre

exhibition · 2026-05-05

In Rome at RIPENSE, the exhibition LIVING! Julian Beck pittore showcases the artistic journey of Julian Beck from the 1940s until the late 1950s, prior to his shift to the Living Theatre. Curated by Lorenzo Mango, the display includes early works such as Untitled (1945), previously exhibited by Peggy Guggenheim, and Lead and Gold: War and Peace (1946). During the 1950s, Beck's artistic approach transformed into one characterized by gestural anxiety. The catalog features an interview with Beck conducted by Andrew Nadelson. Key pieces on display include Untitled (1951) and Aquarius (1957), culminating with The Sugar Industry (1958), which encapsulates his earlier explorations. This exhibition is open from July 10 to November 14, 2026, at Accademia Nazionale di San Luca ETS, Rome.

Key facts

  • Exhibition title: LIVING! Julian Beck pittore
  • Venue: RIPENSE, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca ETS, Via Ripense 6, Rome
  • Dates: July 10 to November 14, 2026
  • Curator: Lorenzo Mango
  • Focus: Julian Beck's painting from the 1940s to late 1950s, before the Living Theatre
  • Untitled (1945) was exhibited by Peggy Guggenheim at the Autumn Salon with William Baziotes, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock
  • Catalog includes an interview with Beck by Andrew Nadelson, musician and Living Theatre actor in the 1960s
  • The Yellow Methuselah (1982) backdrop, 70 meters long, was made in Rome; part is exhibited

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Living Theatre
  • RIPENSE
  • Accademia Nazionale di San Luca ETS
  • Autumn Salon
  • Guggenheim
  • Casa Morra Archive of Contemporary Art
  • Artribune
  • segnonline.it
  • Rivista Segno

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • New York
  • United States
  • Lascaux
  • France
  • Naples
  • America

Sources