ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

SetUp Bologna Fair's Fifth Edition Spotlights Young Curators and Artists

festival-fair · 2026-05-05

The fifth edition of SetUp Contemporary Art Fair opened in Bologna, featuring 60 participating galleries, 16 of which are international. The fair's format commissions each gallery to present a project by an artist and curator both under 35. Co-director Alice Zannoni noted that five years ago few believed in this approach, but the fair persisted, aiming to highlight curators and attract new collectors. Co-director Simona Gavioli emphasized the importance of year-round fieldwork and global awareness. Future plans include a possible move to the Autostazione parking lot and introducing a guest country. The article highlights five standout works: Paolo Balboni's photographic-installation "Die Mauer II (Il Muro) 1961-2016" examining the Berlin Wall through archival pages and current photos; Valentina D'Accardi's "Perpetuus. Atto I" tracing the story of Pendolino, a local figure in Bologna; Teresa Moro's "Linea Italiana" mapping Italian design through drawings and family photos; Filippo M. Prandi's analog photographic series for Viridian Artists, using double exposures to create cinematic scenes of New York; and Polisonum's interactive sound installation "S.O.S." bringing the soundscape of Naples airport to the fair.

Key facts

  • SetUp Contemporary Art Fair's fifth edition took place in Bologna.
  • 60 galleries participated, including 16 international ones.
  • Each gallery presents a project by an artist and curator under 35.
  • Co-directors are Alice Zannoni and Simona Gavioli.
  • Zannoni said five years ago few believed in the fair's format.
  • Gavioli mentioned possible future guest country and move to Autostazione parking lot.
  • Paolo Balboni's work focuses on the Berlin Wall using archival pages and photos.
  • Valentina D'Accardi's project is about Pendolino, a figure from Bologna.
  • Teresa Moro's work maps Italian design through drawings and family photos.
  • Filippo M. Prandi uses analog double exposures for New York scenes.
  • Polisonum's installation features sound samples from Naples airport.
  • The article was written by Arianna Testino and Caterina Porcellini.

Entities

Artists

  • Paolo Balboni
  • Valentina D'Accardi
  • Teresa Moro
  • Filippo M. Prandi
  • Polisonum
  • Natarajaa
  • Dorota Buczkowska
  • Mohamed Larbi Rahhali

Institutions

  • SetUp Contemporary Art Fair
  • ABC Arte Bologna Cultura
  • Galeria Siboney
  • Viridian Artists
  • Artribune
  • Autostazione di Bologna
  • 3)5 ArteContemporanea
  • A100 Gallery
  • ART and ARS Gallery
  • BBelgravia arte contemporanea
  • BI-BOx Art Space
  • Cartavetra
  • CASA FALCONIERI Centro di ricerca e sperimentazione
  • Ass. Città dell’arte
  • CRAG – CHIONO REISOVA ART GALLERY
  • Eggers 2.0
  • Etra Home Gallery
  • Exfabbricadellebambole associazione culturale
  • Falcinella Fine Art
  • FEDERICO RUI ARTE CONTEMPORANEA
  • Galleria B4
  • Galleria 13 – arte moderna e contemporanea
  • Galleria 33
  • INCREDIBOL – Erika Deák Gallery
  • Il Cerchio e Le Gocce
  • InConnection Art Center
  • ISCULPTURE
  • LAB
  • MARTINA’S GALLERY
  • metroquadro
  • Museo Nuova Era
  • PORTANOVA12
  • SENSI ARTE
  • spaghettiparty.it
  • Spazio Espositivo EContemporary
  • Spazio Lavit
  • Stefano Bartoli
  • Vibra Spazio contemporaneo di idee
  • VV8 ARTECONTEMPORANEA
  • A-Space gallery
  • Addaya Centre D’Art Contemporani
  • LuxLuxury Group
  • State of The Art Gallery and Magazine
  • ABC – Arte Bologna Cultura
  • ADD-art
  • Galleria La Linea
  • STUDIO 38 CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
  • Módulo–Centro Difusor de Arte
  • Gallery Alma
  • Blanca Soto Arte
  • Artizar
  • Steambox Gallery
  • Galerie Ulf Larsson
  • Rodriguez Gallery
  • SAIDA art Contemporain
  • Galleria Siboney
  • Artegiro
  • C.A.C.C.A – Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea sulla Cultura Alimentare
  • Collaterart A.P.S.
  • Current
  • Peninsula
  • Polisonum
  • PrintAboutMe
  • Vinz Feel Free
  • Werkbank Lana

Locations

  • Bologna
  • Italy
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • New York
  • United States
  • Naples
  • Spain
  • Porta San Felice
  • East Side Gallery
  • Autostazione
  • Clermont
  • Florida
  • Lisbon
  • Portugal
  • Athens
  • Greece
  • Madrid
  • Tenerife
  • Ireland
  • Dublin
  • Kerala
  • Warsaw
  • Poland
  • Tetouan
  • Morocco
  • Cologne
  • Poznan
  • Santander
  • Conzano
  • Salerno
  • Milan
  • Rome
  • Turin
  • Valencia
  • Bolzano
  • Sipicciano Graffignano
  • Galatina
  • Biella
  • Florence
  • Cagliari
  • Venice
  • Mantua
  • Reggio Emilia
  • Arezzo
  • Budapest
  • Orte
  • San Gimignano
  • Canneto sull’Oglio
  • Giussano
  • Bari
  • Colle Val d’Elsa
  • Udine
  • Trieste
  • Varese
  • Vezzano sul Crostolo
  • Ravenna
  • Rheinfelden
  • Switzerland
  • Mallorca
  • Spoleto
  • Montalcino
  • Pistoia
  • Miami
  • Dubai
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Doha

Sources