Italian gallerist Pasquale Leccese dies at 66

Pasquale Leccese, the influential Italian gallerist known for his unconventional projects and deep ties to Milan's art scene, has died at 66. Born in Bari in 1957, he moved to Milan in 1982 after a stint in Australia. In 1986 he founded Le Case d'Arte gallery, which moved several times, most recently in 2022 to the Turro district. He was married to super gallerist Monika Sprüth, with whom he had two children. Leccese curated the 1998 exhibition Noir at Triennale di Milano with Mariuccia Casadio and Franca Sozzani, served as artistic director of MiArt from 2001 to 2007, and founded the Start Milano gallerist association (2006–2012). He curated the Panama Pavilion for Richard Prince at the 2007 Venice Biennale and the 2013 exhibition The Immigrants with Federico Luger. His projects included Postersinthecity, which turned urban advertising spaces into art displays; My New Office, which created temporary offices from abandoned street furniture; and Appesi a un chiodo, a hospital art initiative. He also ran a summer residence in Ostuni, opened L'Art Jazz Club in Milan, and established a lab in Cuggiono in 2022. His funeral will be held September 2 at 11:00 in Chiesa di San Satiro, Milan, with the request to bring a chair.