Massimo Bartolini to Represent Italy at 2024 Venice Biennale

Massimo Bartolini, born in Cecina in 1962 and trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, has been selected as the artist for the Italian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale Arte, with Luca Cerizza as curator. The appointment, still unofficial, was announced via Deputy Minister Sgarbi rather than the Ministry. Bartolini's practice explores the relationship between humans, nature, and architectural space, often transforming physical environments into intimate, emotional experiences. His recent solo show "Hagoromo" at Centro Pecci in Prato, curated by Cerizza, concluded in May 2023. Notable past solo exhibitions include Fondazione Merz (Turin, 2017), Museo Marino Marini (Florence, 2015), MART (Rovereto, 2014), Institute of Contemporary Art (Sofia, 2010), MAXXI (Rome, 2008), Centro Pecci (Prato, 2003), and Museu Serralves (Porto, 2007). He has participated in Manifesta 4 (Frankfurt, 2002), Santa Fe Biennial (1997), Venice Biennale (2013, 2005, 1999), Yokohama Triennale (2011), and dOCUMENTA 13 (Kassel, 2012). In 2018, as a collateral event of Manifesta 12, he presented "Caudu e fridu" at Palazzo Oneto in Palermo. Critic Laura Cherubini, who curated his 2005 show at GAM Torino, described his work as centered on the theme of dwelling, with shifting floors and disorienting spaces. Bartolini's gallery representation includes Massimo De Carlo, where his recent exhibition "Horizontal Victory" took place in Paris in December 2022.