Marina Abramović Marks 80th Birthday with Rome Retrospective and Bronze Donkey at Arco di Giano
On 19 November 2026, a gilded bronze donkey created by Marina Abramović will be revealed under the Arco di Giano in the Foro Boario, directly across from the Fondazione Alda Fendi – Esperimenti headquarters. This piece, commissioned by the foundation, represents Abramović's inaugural gilded bronze artwork and is part of the daily Confession project, which operates from 17:00 to 21:00. The artwork draws inspiration from her 2010 video Confession, filmed in Lamu, Kenya. Additionally, the Fondazione Alda Fendi financed the permanent illumination of the Arco di Giano. Paolo Casicci announced this in an interview published in Il Venerdì on 23 October. Abramović will celebrate her 80th birthday on 30 November 2026. Meanwhile, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea will launch Transforming Energy and Legacy Works on 18 November, continuing until 4 April 2027.
Key facts
- A gilded bronze donkey by Marina Abramović is unveiled under Rome's Arco di Giano on 19 November 2026
- The sculpture, her first in gilded bronze, was commissioned by the Fondazione Alda Fendi – Esperimenti
- The Confession project runs daily from 17:00 to 21:00, with booking strongly recommended
- Abramović turns 80 on 30 November 2026; she was born in Belgrade in 1946
- The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea exhibition opens 18 November and closes 4 April 2027
- Transforming Energy and Legacy Works is curated by Shai Baitel, with Andrea Tarsia on the Historical works section
- Balkan Baroque won the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Biennale
- Imponderabilia was performed with Ulay in 1977 in Bologna at the Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna
- The 2010 video Confession was filmed in Lamu, Kenya, ahead of The Artist Is Present at MoMA
- The Fondazione Alda Fendi funded the Arco di Giano's permanent lighting by Francesca and Vittorio Storaro
- The project was announced in an interview by Paolo Casicci in Il Venerdì, out 23 October
Entities
Artists
- Marina Abramović
- Ulay
- Jean Nouvel
- Francesca Storaro
- Vittorio Storaro
- Paolo Casicci
- Shai Baitel
- Andrea Tarsia
Institutions
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Fondazione Alda Fendi – Esperimenti
- Gallerie dell'Accademia
- Biennale di Venezia
- MoMA
- Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna
- Settimana Internazionale della Performance
- Il Venerdì
- Artribune
- Fendi
- Museum of Modern Art
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Belgrade
- Serbia
- Venice
- New York
- United States
- Lamu
- Kenya
- Bologna
- Arco di Giano
- Foro Boario
- Arch of Janus
Sources
- Inside Art —
- Artribune —