Art Historian Marco Pierini Appointed Deputy Mayor of Perugia

Marco Pierini, a seasoned art historian and former director of the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, has been appointed deputy mayor and culture councillor of Perugia by newly elected mayor Vittoria Ferdinandi. The official announcement is expected between July 12 and 13, 2024. Pierini, born in 1966 in Siena, holds a degree in Archaeology and Art History from the University of Siena under Enrico Crispolti and a PhD in Aesthetics. His career includes directing the Museo Diocesano di Pienza (1997–2008), the Palazzo delle Papesse in Siena (2002–2010), and the Galleria Civica di Modena (2010–2014), which he left after a dispute with the city administration. He led the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria for eight years, overseeing a new layout and a contemporary art section inaugurated in 2022, and concurrently served as Regional Director of Museums for Umbria. After his dual mandate ended recently, he was a candidate for the direction of the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples (awarded to Eike Schmidt) and is currently first in the final shortlist for the directorship of the Venaria Reale in Turin, with a decision expected in the coming weeks. Pierini has curated over 50 exhibitions in Italy and abroad, published extensively, and taught at universities in Siena, Carrara, San Marino, and Perugia, where he held a chair in Cultural Heritage Economics. His deep ties to the local community were key to his selection by Ferdinandi.