Arte Fiera Bologna Turns 50: Founders, Collectors, and Gallerists Share Memories
In 2024, Arte Fiera, the oldest art fair in Italy, marks its 50th anniversary, having been established in Bologna in 1974. The fair is housed in new towers on via Stalingrado, designed by architect Kenzo Tange, which also accommodate the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Teatro Europa, and Le Corbusier's Esprit Nouveau pavilion. Grazia Toderi reminisces about her first experience at the fair in 1977, while Flavio Favelli recalls curator Amnon Barzel purchasing a photograph for the Tel Aviv Museum in the late 1990s. Silvia Evangelisti, who began as a standista in 1974, served as artistic director from 2003 to 2012. Currently, the fair is led by director Simone Menegoi and president Enea Righi, with Giorgio Fasol remembering the 1989 exhibition 'Il futuro presente.'
Key facts
- Arte Fiera Bologna celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024.
- The fair was founded in 1974 in Bologna, Italy.
- Architect Kenzo Tange designed new towers in Bologna where Arte Fiera, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Teatro Europa, and Le Corbusier's Esprit Nouveau pavilion were built.
- Artist Grazia Toderi first attended in 1977.
- Artist Flavio Favelli met curator Amnon Barzel at the fair in the late 1990s; Barzel bought a photo for the Tel Aviv Museum.
- Silvia Evangelisti worked as a standista for Documenta gallery in 1974 and later became artistic director from 2003 to 2012.
- Collector Giorgio Fasol participated in the 1989 exhibition 'Il futuro presente' curated by Germana Galli.
- Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, former president of Bolognafiere and Ferrari, set three goals: increase gallery quality, attract foreign galleries, and involve the city.
- Current director is Simone Menegoi; president is Enea Righi.
- Galleria Continua first participated in 1991, supported by Silvia Evangelisti.
Entities
Artists
- Grazia Toderi
- Flavio Favelli
- Kenzo Tange
- Le Corbusier
- Amnon Barzel
- Silvia Evangelisti
- Giorgio Fasol
- Germana Galli
- Angelo Baldassarre
- Carlo Clerici
- Giorgio Franchetti
- Giuliano Gori
- Simone Menegoi
- Enea Righi
- Massimo Orsini
- Sarah Cosulich
- Davide Mazzoleni
- Mario Cristiani
- Lorenzo Fiaschi
- Maurizio Rigillo
- Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
- Giorgio Marconi
- Leo Castelli
- Ileana Castelli
- Maurizio Mazzotti
- Francesco Arcangeli
- Uliana Zanetti
- Urs Lüthi
- Franco Vaccari
- Marc Camille Chaimowicz
- Vincenzo Agnetti
- Sanja Iveković
- Rosanna Chiessi
- Luigi Ontani
- Fabio Mauri
- Silvia Fanti
- Bruna Roccasalva
- Daniela Ortiz
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Germano Celant
- Alberto Salvadori
Institutions
- Arte Fiera
- Galleria d’Arte Moderna
- Teatro Europa
- Esprit Nouveau
- Tel Aviv Museum
- Documenta
- Mazzoleni
- Galleria Continua
- Mutina
- Bolognafiere
- Ferrari
- Artribune
- Accademia di Belle Arti
- Università di Bologna
- Liceo Artistico di Bologna
- Feltrinelli
- Palace Hotel
- Cinema Fulgor
- Da Nello
- Da Gianni
- Giorgio Beverly Hills
- Da Bertino
- Da Vito
- Diana
- Booking.com
- Fondazione Telethon
- Manifatture Sigaro Toscano
- Italo treno
- MAMbo
- Pari Editori & Dispari
- Fondazione Furla
- Mutina for Art
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Piazza Maggiore
- Piazza Verdi
- Universitaria
- Due Torri
- via Stalingrado
- Tel Aviv
- Turin
- Torino
- Trieste
- via Montegrappa