Bologna Hosts First Louise Nevelson Exhibition at Palazzo Fava

From May 30 to July 20, 2025, Palazzo Fava in Bologna will host the city's first major exhibition dedicated to Louise Nevelson (born Lija Isaakivna Berljavs'ka, 1899–1988), organized by Associazione Genesi and curated by Ilaria Bernardi. The show coincides with the 120th anniversary of Nevelson's move from Ukraine to the United States, a pivotal moment in her life and career. Nevelson, known as the "grande dame of contemporary sculpture," was among the first women to gain prominence in the 1940s art scene. She represented the US at the 31st Venice Biennale and had a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum in 1967. Her works are held by top American museums including MoMA. The exhibition features iconic large-scale painted wood sculptures from the 1950s to the 1980s, organized into five thematic sections for the first time. It explores Nevelson's feminist approach, as noted by critic Germano Celant in 1971, who described her work as both feminine and feminist. The artist divorced Charles Nevelson in 1941 to pursue art full-time. The exhibition includes guided tours and inclusive workshops for all ages.