At Museo Novecento Florence, the exhibition celebrating 120 years of Villa Romana

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Villa Romana, Museo Novecento presents, in collaboration with the historic Florentine residency, the exhibition CENTOVENTI: Villa Romana 1905–2025, curated by Elena Agudio and Sergio Risaliti, with Mistura Allison and Eva Francioli.

Georg Baselitz Ein Versperrter, Un bloccato 1965

The exhibition will be open to the public from October 26, 2025, to March 8, 2026, in the museum’s first-floor galleries.

Since its foundation, Villa Romana has stood out as an independent and free space, devoted to artistic experimentation and international exchange, far from academic conventions. Over the decades, its mission has evolved into a platform supporting young and experimental art — a place where new forms can emerge from a critical reflection on both the past and the present.

The exhibition investigates the ongoing dialogue between Villa Romana and the city of Florence, highlighting the crucial role the Villa has played in shaping cultural relations, influences, and visionary encounters. Despite its seemingly peripheral position on Via Senese, it has long been a hub for intellectual and creative exchange. Since 1905, through an intense program of residencies, the Villa has hosted artists and thinkers whose work and presence have transformed it into a living laboratory of artistic research and contemporary engagement.

Hans Purrmann, The fountain at the Villa Romana 1937

For the first time in an Italian museum, CENTOVENTI historicizes the presence and activities of Villa Romana throughout the 20th century and into the present day. The exhibition includes archival materials and artworks by some of the leading figures who have marked the institution’s history — among them Ernst Barlach, Georg Baselitz, Michael Buthe, Max Klinger, Georg Kolbe, Käthe Kollwitz, Markus Lüpertz, Anna Oppermann, Max Pechstein, and Emy Roeder. The works come from the Villa Romana collection as well as from major museums and international institutions.

More than a celebration, CENTOVENTI becomes an act of reflection: on the power of art to challenge established certainties, to heal and to provoke, and to open new perspectives on what it means to live, create, and connect within a constantly changing world.

Emy Roeder, Bagnante 1937

The project reflects a shared path between Museo Novecento and Villa Romana, aimed at reinforcing their connection to the local territory while opening to innovative artistic practices and languages. In recent years, Museo Novecento has intensified its commitment to contemporary creation — from exhibitions featuring emerging and mid-career artists, to grants for under-45s, and the newly launched WONDERFUL! Art Research Program, supported by the Maria Manetti and Jan Shrem Foundation and conceived by director Sergio Risaliti.

Museo Novecento Firenze

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 10, 50123 Firenze FI

Date 26.10.2025 - 08.03.2026