Six Female Artists Transform Former Turin Convent into Exhibition Space

In Turin's historic via Barbaroux, a luxury residential conversion of the Convitto dei Santi Martiri has sparked a cultural project. The building, recently acquired by Holding 18, was entrusted to G*AA Giaquinto Architetti Associati for renovation. Developer Holding 18 and curator Iole Pellion di Persano, daughter of gallerist Giorgio Persano, launched a series of events tied to architectural interventions. The first exhibition, "Presenza / Assenza, Femminilità a confronto," runs until March 11, curated by Pellion di Persano with Giulia Turcati. It features six female artists—Anna Canale, Aurora Paolillo, Grazia Amendola, Lina Fucà, Stefania Fersini, and Susy Gomez—across two floors of the building. Each room addresses a theme: aesthetics, fashion, cultural differences, hidden violence, and maternity. Proceeds from artwork sales support the women's solidarity project of Sideo, in collaboration with Luca Argentero's nonprofit 1 Caffè. The initiative anticipates future development near the Lavazza Direzionale Center in via Bologna.