Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

Most recent stories

Ventotene Manifesto's Lessons for Italy's Cultural System opinion-review
Stefano Monti argues that the Ventotene Manifesto, despite its historical context, offers enduring lessons for Italy's cultural system. He contends that the document's ideals—such…
Bananas Hung on Thomas J. Price Sculpture in Florence Sparks Racism Debate opinion-review
On March 26, 2025, two young individuals hung bananas on Thomas J. Price's sculpture 'Time Unfolding' in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, and were immediately stopped and fined by…
Christian Caliandro: L'arte deve tornare a porsi domande opinion-review
In un editoriale su Artribune, Christian Caliandro riflette sul ruolo dell'arte contemporanea in un'epoca segnata da tensioni geopolitiche, pandemia e accelerazione sociale.…
Critic Reflects on Subjectivity in Art and Criticism During University of Illinois Lecture opinion-review
In early March, a critic delivered a public lecture at the University of Illinois while serving as a visiting artist. The talk explored the distinct subjectivities of artists…
Stefano Monti on Art's Role in the Age of Musk opinion-review
In an article on Artribune, Domenico Ioppolo questions the role and function of art in contemporary society, calling for a new artistic vitality. Stefano Monti responds, arguing…
Prestinenza Puglisi on architecture's multiple interpretations opinion-review
Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi argues that architectural meaning is never fixed but emerges from a web of historical references, authorial intent, and critical bias. Using…
Elon Musk's power dressing: decoding the tech mogul's Washington wardrobe opinion-review
Elon Musk's choice of baseball cap, black t-shirt with large acronyms, and black jacket at the White House signals a deliberate break from traditional Washington dress codes.…
Integrating Poetry and Science in Art Communication opinion-review
Father Antonio Spadaro proposes enriching cultural heritage narratives by involving artists and poets, sparking debate on humanistic education. He argues that imagination is…
Crisis of US Democrats and Hollywood: A Shared Narrative Collapse opinion-review
Francesco Monico argues that the simultaneous decline of the Democratic Party and Hollywood/Disney is no coincidence but a symptom of a broken pact with the public. Both…
La nostalgia come cura per la paura del futuro opinion-review
Christian Caliandro analizza il ruolo della nostalgia nella cultura contemporanea, sostenendo che essa funge da lubrificante sociale e culturale da quasi cinquant'anni. La…
Gibellina Mayor Defends City's Readiness for 2026 Italian Capital of Contemporary Art opinion-review
Gibellina Mayor Salvatore Sutera has publicly responded to critical commentary by Vito Ancona regarding the city's preparations for its 2026 designation as Italy's first Capital…
Why Paintings Are Hung Too High in White Cube Galleries opinion-review
Pericle Guaglianone argues that contemporary painting exhibitions frequently suffer from poor installation, specifically hanging works too high. He traces this to the hegemony of…
Giulia Silvia Ghia on Rethinking Art Communication for New Generations opinion-review
Giulia Silvia Ghia, assessor to Culture, Schools, Youth, and Sports for Rome's historic center since November 2021, argues that art risks becoming an exclusive code understood by…
Artribune survey reveals mental health crisis among Italian art workers opinion-review
An Artribune survey of 568 Italian art workers (73.6% female, 25% male, 1.4% unspecified) conducted from August to December 2024 found that 75.5% consider their work mentally…
Bruno Zevi's 1948 spatial autonomy theory revisited in architectural discourse opinion-review
Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi examines the concept of autonomy within architecture, distinguishing between theoretical autonomy as a separate field and poetic autonomy as the essence…
L'arte come resistenza silenziosa nell'era tecnologica opinion-review
Domenico Ioppolo riflette sul ruolo dell'arte nella società contemporanea, dominata dalla tecnologia e dagli algoritmi generativi. L'arte ha perso la sua funzione eversiva e…
Art in Non-Places: Airports and Stations as Cultural Spaces opinion-review
Angelo Argento argues that placing art in non-places like airports and train stations can transform these transient spaces into sites of cultural experience and reflection.…
Caravaggio 2025 at Palazzo Barberini: A Critical Review opinion-review
Fabrizio Federici critiques the Caravaggio 2025 exhibition at Palazzo Barberini in Rome, arguing that the original scholarly concept—a focused show on recent discoveries—was…
Christian Caliandro argues critical thinking through art is essential for democracy opinion-review
In an opinion piece on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary art's role in fostering critical thinking is vital for democracy, especially in times…
Godard's Artistic Evolution: From 1960s Juvenilia to 1980s Maturity opinion-review
Jean-Luc Godard's filmmaking career demonstrates a distinct evolution across decades, with his work reaching full maturity in the 1980s. His 1960s output, produced during his…
Who Decides What Art Is? opinion-review
Stefano Monti examines the power dynamics behind defining art in contemporary society. He identifies three centers of power: political, economic-financial, and the multitude…
Artribune essay argues art communication needs authentic storytelling beyond disposable culture opinion-review
In a 2025 essay on Artribune, Francesco Monico critiques contemporary art communication as trapped in a disposable, social-media-driven logic. He traces the origins of narrative…
Florence's Piazza Duomo sculpture controversy: Region Tuscany's cultural policy under fire opinion-review
The controversy surrounding Emanuele Giannelli's sculptures in Piazza Duomo, Florence, has escalated beyond the initial negative review by Artribune. The exhibition's press office…
J.D. Vance's 'I watched the stories' remark reveals a postmodern political epistemology opinion-review
In a viral Oval Office video, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, when asked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if he had ever visited Ukraine to see the problems firsthand,…
Artribune receives insults and threats after criticizing public art exhibition in Florence opinion-review
Artribune published a critical review of the public art exhibition "Il Cielo Sopra Firenze" curated by Emanuele Giannelli, installed near Florence's Duomo. The review criticized…
Hans Ulrich Obrist on Art Education: From Bauhaus to Black Mountain College opinion-review
Hans Ulrich Obrist reflects on the history of experimental art schools and their relevance for contemporary interdisciplinary education. He cites the Bauhaus, founded in 1919 by…
Critique of Poor Public Art Installations at Florence Cathedral opinion-review
An article by Massimiliano Tonelli on Artribune criticizes the installation of two large sculptures by Emanuele Giannelli behind the Duomo of Florence, inaugurated on February 20,…
Prestinenza Puglisi on the evolution of functionalism in architecture opinion-review
Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi explores the concept of 'function' in architecture, tracing its evolution from the Modern Movement to contemporary parametricism. He argues that…
Milan Fashion Week's black vans invade public space, sparking sustainability hypocrisy opinion-review
Milan Fashion Week, organized by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, has been criticized for its massive invasion of public space by black vans and Mercedes limousines that…
Rethinking Art Communication: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Deeper Engagement opinion-review
In an article for Artribune, Paolo Cuccia responds to Father Antonio Spadaro's challenge by asserting that improving art communication necessitates a reevaluation of both…
Marinetti's Grandson Slams Futurism Show, Offers Expertise Rejected opinion-review
Leonardo Clerici, the grandson of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, has expressed his discontent with the exhibition 'Il Tempo del Futurismo' for rejecting his scientific input. As a…
Infoclastia: la distruzione dell'informazione nell'era digitale opinion-review
L'articolo introduce il concetto di 'infoclastia' (infoclasm), proposto per la prima volta da Alessandro Paolo Lombardo, per descrivere la distruzione dell'informazione attraverso…
Vincenzo de Bellis on Italy's Art Market Crisis: Tax Disadvantage and Structural Paralysis opinion-review
Vincenzo de Bellis, director of Art Basel's art fairs, criticizes Italy's failure to reduce VAT on art sales despite EU pressure and neighboring countries like France and Germany…
Storytelling as key to making cultural heritage accessible and engaging opinion-review
The article argues that preserving artworks is insufficient; they must be made alive and meaningful through storytelling. It cites the anecdote of Michelangelo's Moses statue,…
Matthew Day Jackson's art and Trump's rhetoric: America's dark mythologies opinion-review
The article draws parallels between the violent mythologies of the American West and contemporary U.S. politics, using the Netflix series 'American Primeval' as a springboard.…
Italian Cultural Institutes: A Neglected Resource in Need of Reform opinion-review
Giorgio Guglielmino, a former diplomat, critiques the state of Italian Cultural Institutes (IIC) worldwide, highlighting issues of neglect, low-quality programming, and…
Italy's new culture bonus sees drastic drop in beneficiaries and spending opinion-review
The new Italian culture bonus, which replaced the 18App bonus, has led to a sharp decline in beneficiaries and cultural spending. In 2024, only 118,000 young people received the…
Christian Caliandro: il ruolo dell'arte dopo 40 anni di postmoderno opinion-review
In un articolo su Artribune, Christian Caliandro riflette sul ruolo dell'arte dopo oltre quarant'anni di retorica postmoderna, citando Anna Politkovskaja, Jianwei Xun, George…
Virtual Museum Tours: Added Value or Not? opinion-review
The article highlights the evolution of virtual museum tours and digital exhibitions. In 1996, Alessandra Mottola Molfino, the director of Poldi Pezzoli, dismissed the idea due to…
Arte e salute mentale: un dibattito tra tabù e trasformazione sociale opinion-review
Un'indagine condotta da Artribune esplora le opinioni di artisti, direttori di musei e professionisti culturali riguardo al legame tra arte contemporanea e salute mentale. Bart…

Browse by theme

Exhibitions
Solo shows, group exhibitions, openings, extensions, and closings in galleries, museums, and independent spaces.
Artists
Profiles, interviews, new works, residencies, collaborations, and careers of contemporary artists.
Market & Auctions
Market trends, sales, auction results, major lots, records, and analysis from Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips and others.
Awards
Awards, scholarships, recognitions, nominations, and winners in the art world.
Festivals & Fairs
Art fairs, biennials, triennials, festivals and cultural manifestations — Art Basel, Frieze, TEFAF, Venice Biennale and beyond.
Institutional
Appointments, leadership changes, museum policies, funding, acquisitions and institutional strategies.
Cultural heritage
Restorations, protection, restitutions, UNESCO heritage, legislation, and conservation.
Architecture & design
Architectural projects for museums, galleries and cultural spaces, design reviews and new buildings.
Digital & new media
Digital art, NFTs, AI art, virtual reality, new technologies applied to art.
AI & Technology
Artificial intelligence, language models, machine learning, AI research, tools and infrastructure — from Anthropic and OpenAI to academic papers.
Economy & Finance
Economy, finance, markets, luxury and geopolitics — macro signals that influence the art market and collecting.
Publications
Art books, catalogs, magazines, essays, and new sector publications.
Opinion & reviews
Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.
Other
Everything else — obituaries, interdisciplinary projects, and news that does not fit the main categories.