Top 10 Public Art Projects of 2020 in Italy and Abroad
Artribune's 2020 ranking highlights ten public art projects that transformed urban spaces and fostered community. In Ragusa, Bitume – Industrial Platform of Arts revived the historic Ancione factory with over 30 international artists directed by Vincenzo Cascone. Street artist Tellas (Fabio Schirru) created murals in Turin, Ragusa, Carrara, and Rome as part of his Mimesis series. The Without Frontiers festival in Mantua's Lunetta district now boasts 42 works by 35 artists. In Milan, Massimo Uberti's neon installation 'Lost' appeared on the Naviglio Martesana. Hilario Isola's 'I dormienti' in Guarene memorializes the Resistance while masking a concrete wall. Marc Quinn's statue of Jen Reid on the empty plinth in Bristol responded to Black Lives Matter protests. Edoardo Tresoldi's 'Opera' on Reggio Calabria's lungomare features 46 wire-mesh columns. Alessandro Bulgini's 'Opera Viva – Artista di Quartiere' connected young artists across Italy. Andreco's 'Flumen' combined art and science to raise awareness about Rome's river ecosystems. Finally, the Puglia Region allocated nearly €4 million for urban murals under the STHAR LAB program.
Key facts
- Bitume – Industrial Platform of Arts reopened the Ancione factory in Ragusa with over 30 international artists.
- Vincenzo Cascone directed the Bitume project; he also founded FestiWall.
- Tellas (Fabio Schirru) is considered one of the world's top 100 emerging street artists.
- Without Frontiers festival in Mantua's Lunetta district has 42 works by 35 artists.
- Massimo Uberti's 'Lost' neon installation was on the Naviglio Martesana in Milan.
- Hilario Isola's 'I dormienti' in Guarene is a permanent installation honoring the Resistance.
- Marc Quinn's statue of Jen Reid was placed on the empty plinth in Bristol after the Edward Colston statue was toppled.
- Edoardo Tresoldi's 'Opera' consists of 46 wire-mesh columns, 8 meters high, on Reggio Calabria's lungomare.
- Alessandro Bulgini's 'Opera Viva – Artista di Quartiere' involved 10 young artists across Italy.
- Andreco's 'Flumen' project in Rome includes workshops, performances, and exhibitions about river ecosystems.
- The Puglia Region allocated nearly €4 million for urban murals under the STHAR LAB program.
Entities
Artists
- Vincenzo Cascone
- Tellas
- Fabio Schirru
- Massimo Uberti
- Hilario Isola
- Marc Quinn
- Jen Reid
- Edoardo Tresoldi
- Alessandro Bulgini
- Andreco
- Simona Gavioli
- Lavinia Bottini
- Marco Arosio
- Rossana Ciocca
- Arturo Monti
- Christian Caliandro
Institutions
- Bitume – Industrial Platform of Arts
- FestiWall
- Galleria Wunderkammern
- Ecomuseo Casilino
- ROMARAMA 2020
- Caravan SetUp
- Il Cerchio E Le Gocce
- Comune di Mantova
- Tea
- Cambi Casa D’Aste
- Fondazione CRC
- Comune di Reggio Calabria
- Città Metropolitana di Reggio Calabria
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria
- Flashback
- Maxxi
- Palaexpo
- Fondazione Baruchello
- Università di Roma3
- CNR
- Regione Puglia
- STHAR LAB
- Artribune
Locations
- Ragusa
- Italy
- Turin
- Carrara
- Rome
- Mantua
- Lunetta
- Milan
- Naviglio Martesana
- Guarene
- Roero
- Piedmont
- Bristol
- Reggio Calabria
- Puglia
- Taranto
- Lazio
- Marche
- Campania
- Umbria
- Aniene
- Tevere
- Parco di Veio
- Municipio IV di Roma
- Barriera di Milano
- Torino