A retrospective exhibition dedicated to the work of poet and performer John Giorno will open at the MAMbo museum in Bologna on February 5, 2026, and run through May 3, 2026. The exhibition, titled “John Giorno: The Performative Word,” marks the first major Italian museum retrospective of the New York-based artist, who died in 2019.
The exhibition will trace Giorno’s multifaceted practice through various bodies of work, highlighting his innovative apply of language. According to museum materials, Giorno “transformed the word into a form of art,” valuing the poetic dimension of language and pushing it into the realm of visual arts. A significant portion of his work re-employs excerpts from his poetry on diverse supports, utilizing carefully selected colors and a distinctive font created specifically for him by Mark Michaelson.
Elsewhere in Italy, Milan will host exhibitions focusing on Luciano Fabro and Anselm Kiefer, while Venice will feature Peggy Guggenheim and Marina Abramović. Rome will spotlight Gian Lorenzo Bernini. These exhibitions are part of a broader season of art events planned across Italy in 2026, extending beyond major cities to include smaller cultural centers like Forlì and Udine.
Fondazione Hangar Bicocca in Milan will present the first institutional show of Benni Bosetto, whose artistic practice encompasses drawing, sculpture, installation, and performance. The exhibition is curated by Fiammetta Griccioli.
Further exhibitions planned for 2026 include a show on the Baroque period in Forlì, and a retrospective of Giovanni Gastel’s work in Milan. The Fondazione Prada in Milan will feature Mona Hatoum, with an installation described as a “large spiderweb suspended above us,” intended to evoke themes of interconnectedness and fragility.
At the Castello di Miradolo, an exhibition will draw inspiration from the writings of Gianni Rodari, exploring the relationship between fairy tales and utopia. In Pistoia, the work of Ettore Sottsass will be showcased, highlighting his contributions to design and experimentation. A show dedicated to Giorgio de Chirico is also planned for Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Mamiano di Traversetolo (Parma).
