Enrico Baj Centenary Exhibitions in Milan and Liguria

Two major exhibitions celebrate the centenary of Enrico Baj (1924–2003), the Italian artist known for his irreverent, pataphysical approach. In Milan, Palazzo Reale hosts 'Baj chez Baj' curated by Chiara Gatti and Roberta Cerini Baj, featuring fifty works from the early 1950s to the early 2000s. The show includes his Nuclearist phase with Sergio Dangelo, his 'bad painting' inspired by Cobra, and iconic series like Dames and Generals, Ultracorpi, Specchi, Meccano, Mobili, and Apocalisse. A highlight is the return of 'I Funerali dell’anarchico Pinelli' (The Funeral of the Anarchist Pinelli) to the Sala delle Cariatidi, 52 years after its planned 1972 exhibition was canceled following the killing of Commissioner Calabresi. The monumental work, inspired by Picasso's Guernica, addresses the death of Giuseppe Pinelli. In Liguria, a multi-venue exhibition curated by Luca Bochicchio at the Museo della Ceramica di Savona, Centro Esposizioni di Albisola, and Casa Museo Jorn in Albisola examines Baj's ceramic production, including Nuclear-era pieces and post-surrealist works that engage with kitsch. The exhibitions run through 2024.