Tommaso Setari, Italian Collector and Patron, Dies at 75
On May 27, 2026, Tommaso Setari passed away in Brussels following an extended hospitalization. He was born on July 17, 1950, in Rome and was just shy of his 76th birthday. His funeral is scheduled for June 4 at the Church of Saint-Servais in Brussels. Together with his wife, Giuliana Carusi, he created a notable contemporary art collection featuring artists such as Sol LeWitt and Gerhard Richter. In 2001, they founded the Dena Foundation for Contemporary Art, which supports artist residencies and introduced the Dena Foundation Art Award. Significant exhibitions include "Retour à l'intime" in Paris (2012) and "Intime Conviction" in Vence (2014). Giuliana Setari Carusi has served as President of Cittadellarte since 2000.
Key facts
- Tommaso Setari died on May 27, 2026, in Brussels after a long hospitalization.
- He was born in Rome on July 17, 1950, and would have turned 76.
- Funeral will be held on June 4 at the Church of Saint-Servais in Brussels.
- With wife Giuliana Carusi, he built a major contemporary art collection starting in the late 1970s.
- In 2001, they founded the Dena Foundation for Contemporary Art.
- Dena Foundation supported residencies at Art Omi in New York and Récollets in Paris.
- Castello di Rivoli holds the Dena Foundation archives, exhibited in 2019–2020.
- Collection exhibitions include shows at Maison Rouge (Paris, 2012) and Château de Villeneuve (Vence, 2014).
Entities
Artists
- Tommaso Setari
- Giuliana Carusi
- Sol LeWitt
- Gerhard Richter
- Carla Accardi
- Luciano Fabro
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Ettore Spalletti
- Rosa Barba
- Pierre Huyghe
- Elisabetta Benassi
- Luca Vitone
- Ryan Gander
- Renata Lucas
- Antoine de Galbert
- Emile Hugues
Institutions
- Dena Foundation for Contemporary Art
- Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto
- Art Omi International Arts Center
- Centre International d'Accueil et d'Echanges des Récollets
- Fondazione LeWitt
- Castello di Rivoli
- Maison Rouge foundation Antoine de Galbert
- Château de Villeneuve – Fondation Emile Hugues
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Brussels
- Belgium
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France
- Praiano
- Salerno
- Rivoli
- Turin
- Vence