Deconsecrated 16th-century church in Piacenza becomes Volumnia gallery

The deconsecrated Church of Sant'Agostino in Piacenza, a 16th-century building designed by Bernardino Panizzari, has been transformed into the new home of Volumnia gallery, run by gallerist Enrica De Micheli. The 3,000-square-meter basilica with five naves, larger than Piacenza's cathedral, had been closed for safety reasons since the 1980s. De Micheli won a state tender in July 2017 and opened the gallery in October 2018 after restoration led by architect Enrico De Benedetti. The project also involves Studio Space Caviar of Joseph Grima, curator at Triennale Milano for Design, fashion and craftsmanship, who designed the layout; Studio Vèdet of Valentina Ciuffi for creative direction; and lighting artist Davide Groppi. On April 6, 2019, the gallery will open a solo show dedicated to designer Gabriella Crespi (1922–2017), featuring over 30 objects and furnishings from De Micheli's collection, private collections, and the Gabriella Crespi Archive. The exhibition will also include 10 works from the GAM Ricci Oddi museum. De Micheli plans to add a bistro and a bookstore in the church's former carpentry courtyard, aiming to create a cultural hub in dialogue with local museums.