Italy's Near Disappearance from ArtReview Power 100 Raises Questions

ArtReview's 2024 Power 100 list includes only two Italians: Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and Miuccia Prada, both funders. In 2004, there were three Italians: Maurizio Cattelan (artist), Miuccia Prada, and Paola Antonelli (curator). The top 10 in 2024 is dominated by thinkers and artists, led by Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, curator and director of the Sharjah Biennial and founder of the Sharjah Art Foundation. Institutional figures appear only at 16th place (Koyo Kouoh, director of MOCAA and soon of the Biennale). Over the past 20 years, Italian representation has mainly come from funders, galleries (Continua, De Carlo), international directors of Italian museums, and Italian directors of international museums, with few artists (Cattelan, Renzo Piano). The article argues that Italy's cultural policies may not effectively support talent, suggesting that funding should target galleries and foundations that have historically driven Italian influence.