Remembering Gallerist Maria Cilena and Her Milanese Space
Maria Cilena, the founder of Galleria Maria Cilena in Milan, which later became Studio Maria Cilena, has passed away. Established in 1989, the gallery initially opened on Via Ariberto before relocating to a ground-floor courtyard on Via Farini, ideal for research. Cilena, daughter of painter Primo Sanguini, represented notable artists such as Pier Paolo Calzolari, Claudio Parmiggiani, and Thom Puckey, alongside emerging talents like Joan Bankemper and Michele Chiossi. She also championed video and computer artists, including Simonetta Fadda and Elisabetta Filocamo, as well as earlier figures like Irma Blank. The gallery marked its 20th anniversary in 2009 with a group exhibition and hosted a series of 1960s–70s art shows curated by Roberto Borghi in 2012 and 2015.
Key facts
- Maria Cilena founded her gallery in Milan in 1989.
- The gallery was later renamed Studio Maria Cilena.
- Cilena was the daughter of painter Primo Sanguini.
- The gallery first opened on Via Ariberto, then moved to Via Farini.
- Her roster included Pier Paolo Calzolari, Claudio Parmiggiani, Thom Puckey, Mauro Staccioli, Antonio Trotta, and Giuseppe Uncini.
- She also represented younger artists such as Joan Bankemper, Fausto Bertasa, Michele Chiossi, Riccardo De Marchi, Francesco Garbelli, Silvia Levenson, Bartolomeo Migliore, Guillaume Paris, and Alessandro Traina.
- In 2009, the gallery held a twentieth-anniversary group exhibition.
- In 2012, curator Roberto Borghi organized a cycle of exhibitions on 1960s–70s art, including 'Erbari' with Mario Merz and Giuseppe Penone.
Entities
Artists
- Pier Paolo Calzolari
- Claudio Parmiggiani
- Thom Puckey
- Mauro Staccioli
- Antonio Trotta
- Giuseppe Uncini
- Primo Sanguini
- Joan Bankemper
- Fausto Bertasa
- Michele Chiossi
- Riccardo De Marchi
- Francesco Garbelli
- Silvia Levenson
- Bartolomeo Migliore
- Guillaume Paris
- Alessandro Traina
- Simonetta Fadda
- Elisabetta Filocamo
- François Perrin
- Irma Blank
- Dadamaino
- Elisabeth Scherffig
- Vettor Pisani
- Cecile Wick
- Elena Arzuffi
- Angelo Barone
- Luca Barzaghi
- Enrico Bertelli
- Giannetto Bravi
- Clara Brasca
- Viviana Buttarelli
- Gianni Cella
- Mario Merz
- Giuseppe Penone
- Claudio Costa
- Guido Nosari
- Roberto Borghi
Institutions
- Galleria Maria Cilena
- Studio Maria Cilena
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Via Ariberto
- Via Farini
- Castel San Giovanni