Fondazione Alberto Peruzzo Opens in Medieval Church in Padua

The Fondazione Alberto Peruzzo has inaugurated its new cultural space in the former Church of Sant'Agnese in Padua, a 13th-century building restored to host contemporary art. The inaugural exhibition, titled 'Uno spazio ritrovato. Opere storiche e contemporanee nella Nuova Sant'Agnese,' curated by Riccardo Caldura, runs from March 31, 2023. It juxtaposes 17th- and 18th-century paintings, including an altarpiece by Giandomenico Tiepolo, with works by Jannis Kounellis, Antoni Tàpies, Jean Dubuffet, Piero Manzoni, Lucio Fontana, and Hermann Nitsch. A 1996 untitled piece by Kounellis, acquired permanently by the foundation, serves as a conceptual 'stitching' between past and future. The nave hosts temporary installations, the sacristy displays rotating works from the foundation's collection—featuring Mario Sironi, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Emilio Vedova, and others—while the terrace above the sacristy is reserved for large sculptures. A permanent historical area exhibits archaeological fragments discovered during restoration. The project, led by entrepreneur Alberto Peruzzo, aims to promote contemporary art while preserving historical heritage.