New York New York: Italian Art's Transatlantic Dialogue at Two Milan Museums

The exhibition 'New York New York' at Milan's Museo del Novecento and Gallerie d'Italia explores the artistic dialogue between Italy and the United States, showcasing works by Italian artists inspired by American culture. At the Museo del Novecento, pieces include Lucio Fontana's metal sheets, Fortunato Depero's 'Grattacieli e Tunnel' (1930) depicting New York as both euphoric and dark, and works by Cagli, Tancredi, and Nivola. The Neoavanguardia section features analytical and socially critical works by Baj, Schifano, Lombardo, Angeli, Baruchello, Pascali, and Rotella. A dedicated area presents Ugo Mulas's photographs of postwar moments, including David Smith at Italsider and the 1964 Venice Biennale. At Gallerie d'Italia, the exhibition highlights institutional and private exchanges, starting with the 1949 MoMA show 'XX Century Italian Art,' with works by Boccioni, Marini, and Morandi. It also recalls the Rome-New York Art Foundation and personal friendships between Italian and American artists, such as Willem de Kooning's portrait of Toti Scialoja and works by Cy Twombly, an American adopted by Italy. The exhibition reflects on the current difficulty for Italian artists to gain international recognition due to institutional neglect of research art.