BAAB biennial launches in Rome with underground focus
The inaugural BAAB (Basement Art Assembly Biennial) is set to launch in Rome on September 11, 2025, with a preview on September 10. Hosted at Basement, located at Viale Mazzini 128, the event will continue until November 6. Established by Ilaria Marotta and Andrea Baccin, the biennial is guided by advisors including Nicolas Bourriaud, Jean-Max Colard, Simon Denny, Anthony Huberman, and Lumi Tan. It will showcase installations, performances, films, and new works from artists such as Davide Balula, James Bantone, and Cecilia Bengolea. A special performance by Lily McMenamy will take place in a renovated theater. Soho House Rome is the primary partner, and the biennial operates without public funding, depending on collaborations with Accademia di Francia and American Academy in Rome. The event will conclude with a social dinner.
Key facts
- BAAB first edition opens September 11, 2025 in Rome
- Founded by Ilaria Marotta and Andrea Baccin of CURA.
- Advisory board includes Nicolas Bourriaud, Jean-Max Colard, Simon Denny, Anthony Huberman, Lumi Tan
- Over 20 artists listed including Jeremy Deller, Carsten Höller, Mark Leckey
- Lily McMenamy performance at a restored theater
- Soho House Rome is main partner
- Sonorama sound section by Ruggero Pietromarchi with Bang & Olufsen
- No public funding received for this edition
Entities
Artists
- Ilaria Marotta
- Andrea Baccin
- Nicolas Bourriaud
- Jean-Max Colard
- Simon Denny
- Anthony Huberman
- Lumi Tan
- Lily McMenamy
- Invernomuto
- Cecilia Bengolea
- Puppies Puppies (Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo)
- Martha Kirszenbaum
- Giulia Colletti
- Davide Balula
- James Bantone
- Hannah Black
- Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley
- Vittorio Brodmann
- Claudia Comte
- Jeremy Deller
- Gina Fischli
- Gina Folly
- Aziz Hazara
- Calla Henkel
- Max Pitegoff
- Carsten Höller
- Karl Holmqvist
- David Horvitz
- Than Hussein Clark
- Mark Leckey
- Nyala Moon
- Valentin Noujaïm
- Selma Selman
- Tobias Spichtig
- Nora Turato
- Women's History Museum
- Michele Rizzo
- Alessandro Cicoria
- Gianni Politi
- Elisabetta Benassi
- Anna Franceschini
- Lorenzo Silvestri
- Nicola Pecoraro
- Eleonora Milani
- Lindsay Lawson
- Ruggero Pietromarchi
- CCL
- Car Culture
- Dr. Pit
- Ilaria Mancia
- Achille Bonito Oliva
- Jannis Kounellis
- Fabio Sargentini
Institutions
- Basement
- CURA.
- Basement Art Assembly Biennial (BAAB)
- John Giorno Foundation
- Soho House Rome
- Accademia di Francia a Roma
- American Academy in Rome
- Times Bar
- Cooper Union University
- Bang & Olufsen
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Viale Mazzini 128
- Villa Borghese
- Berlin
- London
- New York