Italian artists finally get international recognition thanks to systemic support

Massimiliano Tonelli argues that the historical underrepresentation of Italian artists abroad stems not from conspiracies but from a lack of organized support. He contrasts Italy's absence of a system that covers travel, transport, and accommodation costs for invited artists with countries like Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, which have public, semi-public, or private organizations that subsidize such expenses. Tonelli notes that museum directors, especially in recent years, must balance budgets, making it cheaper to invite artists from countries with support systems. However, he reports a recent positive shift: Italian artists—including young and emerging ones—are now frequently invited to major exhibitions in London and New York. This change is attributed to a newfound synergy among private foundations, public foundations (praising the Quadriennale), and even the government through the Italian Council program. Tonelli credits the Italian Council, launched in 2017, with helping to solve the problem by providing funding and logistical support. He concludes that once Italy addressed the organizational deficit, the inherent quality of Italian art—'sexy' fundamentals—could flourish globally.