ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Rauschenberg and the 20th Century: A Milanese Dialogue

exhibition · 2026-04-26

At the Museo del Novecento in Milan, "Rauschenberg e il Novecento" is on display, curated by Gianfranco Maraniello, Nicola Ricciardi, and Viviana Bertanzetti, with input from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. This exhibition showcases eight pieces by Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) from the 1970s and 1980s, alongside selections from the museum’s own collection. It opens in the Futurism gallery with Rauschenberg's "Gluts" series, complemented by works from Giacomo Balla and Carlo Carrà. Notable features include "Able Was I Ere I Saw Elba" alongside creations by Mario Sironi and Arturo Martini, and the "Cardboards" series engaging with Alberto Burri. The exhibit wraps up with "Onoto Snare / ROCI Venezuela" (1985), highlighting Rauschenberg's collaborative approach.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Rauschenberg e il Novecento' at Museo del Novecento, Milan
  • Curated by Gianfranco Maraniello and Nicola Ricciardi with Viviana Bertanzetti
  • Consultation with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
  • Eight works by Rauschenberg from 1970s–1980s, sourced from Europe
  • Rauschenberg's 'Gluts' series dialogues with Futurist works by Balla and Carrà
  • 'Able Was I Ere I Saw Elba' reinterprets David's Napoleon, paired with Sironi, Carrà, and Martini
  • 'Cardboards' series in dialogue with Alberto Burri's material experiments
  • 'Phantom' series (1991) paired with Parmiggiani's 'Scultura d'ombra'
  • 'Spread' works shown with Spoerri, Arman, and Christo to highlight influence on Nouveau Réalisme
  • 'Summer Glut Fence' (1987) displayed with Kounellis and Schifano
  • 'Hoarfrost' series (early 1970s) contrasted with Paolini's conceptual works
  • ROCI project represented by 'Onoto Snare / ROCI Venezuela' (1985)
  • Exhibition ends with Zorio, Mattiacci, and Rauschenberg's collaborative ethos

Entities

Artists

  • Robert Rauschenberg
  • Giacomo Balla
  • Carlo Carrà
  • Jacques-Louis David
  • Mario Sironi
  • Arturo Martini
  • Alberto Burri
  • Claudio Parmiggiani
  • Daniel Spoerri
  • Arman
  • Christo
  • Jannis Kounellis
  • Mario Schifano
  • Giulio Paolini
  • Gilberto Zorio
  • Eliseo Mattiacci
  • Maurizio Cattelan
  • Giulia Bianco

Institutions

  • Museo del Novecento
  • Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Port Arthur
  • Captiva Island
  • Europe
  • Piazza del Duomo

Sources