Bologna Art Week: Four Fairs to Watch in 2019

Bologna's art week features four major fairs in 2019. Arte Fiera, under new director Simone Menegoi, presents 142 galleries with a focus on monographic stands, including Main Section and Fotografia e immagini in movimento curated by FANTOM. Special projects include Solo figura e sfondo curated by Davide Ferri, Oplà performing activities by Silvia Fanti, Golinelli Foundation workshops, Flash Art talks, and a VIP lounge by Flavio Favelli. Art City returns for a second year curated by Lorenzo Balbi, with events across Bologna. Fruit Exhibition moves to Palazzo Isolani, featuring over 100 independent publishers, workshops, conferences, and the new FIP – Fruit Indie Publishing award in collaboration with Favini paper mill, with a theme of humour. SetUp Contemporary Art Fair returns to Palazzo Pallavicini, directed by Simona Gavioli, focusing on emerging artists under 35 with curatorial projects. Twenty-five galleries (22 Italian, 3 from US, France, Spain) explore the theme of Ithaca. New sections include ISLANDERS video show curated by Manuela Valentini, OFF Projects with Luca Maria Castelli curated by Maria Letizia Tega, and performance I(m)SOLA by Marina Visentini and Elena Copelli. Paratissima Bologna Art Fair moves to Magazzini Romagnoli, an industrial space opened for the first time, centered on the concept of 'expeausition' celebrating skin as communication, featuring independent spaces and contemporary galleries.