Alberto Burri Retrospective at Fondazione Cini in Venice

A major retrospective of Alberto Burri (1915–1995) opened at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, curated by Bruno Corà in collaboration with Tornabuoni Art and Paola Sapone MCIA. The exhibition, titled 'Burri: la pittura, irriducibile presenza,' features about fifty works on loan from the Fondazione Burri and numerous Italian and international museums and collections. It traces Burri's entire abstract painting career from 1948–49 to 1994, including key series such as Catrami, Muffe, Sacchi, Gobbi, Combustioni, Legni, Ferri, Plastiche, Cretti, Cellotex, and Neri e Oro. The show marks Burri's return to Venice after his 1983 monographic exhibition at the Giudecca. The installation, designed by architect Tiziano Sarteanesi, follows a chronological path and includes multimedia documentation of works like the Grande Cretto Gibellina. Burri's revolutionary approach to matter—using tar, molds, sacks, fire, and industrial materials—is highlighted as a radical departure from representation, presenting raw material as art. The exhibition also features a section on photography with works by Amendola, Basilico, Colombo, Mulas, Loy, Linke, Powell, and Gendel. Burri's long relationship with Venice includes multiple Biennale participations from 1952 to 1995. The retrospective aims to underscore Burri's enduring influence on contemporary art, his empirical relationship with materials, and his lesson in method and fearlessness.