Luca Beatrice Remembered by Nicolas Ballario: Curator, Teacher, and Art World Provocateur

Nicolas Ballario pays tribute to Luca Beatrice, the Italian curator and art critic who died in January 2025. Beatrice was known for his horizontal approach to art, blending high and low culture without fear. He curated major exhibitions at the Reggia di Venaria (featuring motorcycles) and the Museo del Cinema (focusing on TV series like E.R., The Simpsons, and Sex and the City). He was a professor at Accademia Albertina, IULM, and IED, remembered as a severe yet hypnotic teacher. Beatrice also curated the Quadriennale di Roma, emphasizing plurality and respect for the institution. Ballario recalls Beatrice's generosity, his love for argument, and his protective nature. At his funeral in Turin's Duomo, Nick Cave's "Into My Arms" played. Beatrice is survived by his wife Elisa and children Stella, Giulia, Niccolò, and Giovanni. Minister Giuli and lifelong friend Michele Coppola spoke at the ceremony.