ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Letizia Battaglia: 'Non sono una fotografa di mafia'

exhibition · 2026-05-04

In an interview with Artribune, Letizia Battaglia (born 1935 in Palermo) rejects the label 'mafia photographer' as reductive and offensive. She emphasizes her broader work documenting Palermo's life, theater, publishing, and photography promotion. Her exhibition at Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice features nearly 200 previously unseen images, including a child in a pool of blood, which she insists on showing without censorship. Battaglia reflects on how photographs gain new meaning over time, citing the image of Piersanti Mattarella (brother of current Italian President Sergio Mattarella) after his 1980 assassination. She continues to photograph, currently focusing on nude portraits of female friends. She directs the Centro Internazionale di Fotografia in Palermo, a project she proposed to Mayor Orlando seven years ago. Battaglia advises women to work hard with courage, as life remains full of surprises at age 84.

Key facts

  • Letizia Battaglia was born in Palermo in 1935.
  • In 2017, the New York Times named her one of 11 extraordinary women of the year.
  • She rejects the label 'fotografa di mafia' as offensive and lazy journalism.
  • Her exhibition at Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice features nearly 200 mostly unseen photographs.
  • The exhibition includes a photo of a child in a pool of blood, which she insists on showing without censorship.
  • A photo of Piersanti Mattarella after his 1980 assassination has gained new meaning because his brother Sergio became President of Italy.
  • She rediscovered a photo of a young Alessia Marcuzzi at the Premio Stefania Rotolo beauty contest.
  • She currently photographs nudes of female friends, including a 73-year-old who complained about not being photographed.
  • She directs the Centro Internazionale di Fotografia in Palermo, proposed to Mayor Orlando seven years ago.
  • She founded Edizioni della Battaglia publishing house and previously co-founded Laboratorio d'IF gallery in 1979.

Entities

Artists

  • Letizia Battaglia
  • Franco Zecchin
  • Alessia Marcuzzi

Institutions

  • New York Times
  • Casa dei Tre Oci
  • Maxxi
  • Magnum Photos
  • Centro Internazionale di Fotografia Palermo
  • Edizioni della Battaglia
  • Laboratorio d'IF
  • Artribune
  • Mezzocielo

Locations

  • Palermo
  • Italy
  • Venice
  • Sicily

Sources