Alice Neel's first Italian retrospective opens at Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin
In Turin, the Pinacoteca Agnelli has inaugurated the first Italian retrospective dedicated to American artist Alice Neel (1900–1984), coinciding with the 125th anniversary of her birth. Curated by Sarah Cosulich and Pietro Rigolo, the exhibition showcases 60 pieces divided into six sections, chronicling Neel's artistic journey. Earlier exhibitions in Europe were held at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and David Zwirner in Los Angeles (2024). Neel's portraits delve into themes such as motherhood, sexuality, poverty, and political activism, reflecting significant historical moments like the Great Depression and the feminist movement. Key works include 'Dead Father,' 'Suicidal Ward' (1931), and a portrait of activist Annie Sprinkle (1982). This retrospective seeks to emphasize her impact on feminist movements.
Key facts
- First Italian retrospective of Alice Neel at Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin
- 125 years after Neel's birth
- 60 works in six chapters
- Curated by Sarah Cosulich and Pietro Rigolo
- Previous European shows at Guggenheim Bilbao, Centre Pompidou, and David Zwirner Los Angeles
- Neel was a radically figurative painter during abstraction's dominance
- Works address motherhood, sexuality, poverty, politics, and psychological states
- Notable paintings include 'Dead father,' 'Suicidal Ward,' self-portrait as skull, 'Pregnant Julie and Algis,' 'Pregnant Bette Homitzky,' 'Ginny and Elizabeth,' and portrait of Annie Sprinkle
- Neel died in 1984 without widespread recognition
Entities
Artists
- Alice Neel
- Carlos Enríquez
- Harald Szeemann
- Annie Sprinkle
- Diane Arbus
Institutions
- Pinacoteca Agnelli
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- Centre Pompidou
- David Zwirner
- Artribune
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Merion Square
- Gladwyne
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Bilbao
- Spain
- Paris
- France
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Philadelphia
- Cuba
- Spanish Harlem
- Harlem