Renowned for his groundbreaking contribution to the Abstract Expressionist movement, Willem de Kooning will be exhibited in a major exhibition set to open at the Temporary Exhibition Halls of the venerable Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice.
The show will run from April 17, 2024, coinciding with the 60th International Venice Biennale, “Willem de Kooning and Italy” is poised to attract audiences until September 15, 2024.
This landmark exhibition marks the first comprehensive exploration of de Kooning’s transformative experiences in Italy in 1959 and again a decade later in 1969. It aims to shed light on the deep effect of these visits on his artistic evolution. With an impressive collection of 75 works curated by Gary Garrels and Mario Codognato, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of de Kooning’s Italian sojourns.
Giulio Manieri Elia, Director of the Gallerie dell’Accademia, underscores the significance of this exhibition, stating, “We are convinced that proposing de Kooning was the right choice for several reasons: first of all for the importance of the artist, secondly, because of its subject and special connections with Italy, which is dear and close to us.” This sentiment underscores the exhibition’s aim to illuminate de Kooning’s lesser-explored Italian sojourns.
Visitors will see de Kooning’s artistic development, beginning with a compelling display of his “Black and White Rome” drawings from 1959, alongside works from the late 1950s. These striking pieces offer a glimpse into de Kooning’s artistic psyche in the years preceding his Italian encounters.
Central to the exhibition are de Kooning’s pastoral landscapes, including “Door to the River,” “A Tree in Naples,” and “Villa Borghese,” painted in New York in 1960. These evocative pieces capture the lingering essence of his Italian travels, marking a pivotal juncture in his artistic trajectory.
A dedicated gallery showcases de Kooning’s foray into sculpture, featuring thirteen small bronzes created during his time in Rome. These experimental works underscore de Kooning’s creative ingenuity and offer insight into his artistic exploration.
The exhibition also spotlights de Kooning’s drawings from the 1960s and 1970s, offering a glimpse into his gestural investigations of form and space. Complemented by intimate ink drawings from Spoleto in 1969, this segment illuminates de Kooning’s mastery of line and composition.
Designed by UNA/UNLESS and directed by architect Giulia Foscari, the exhibition culminates with a mesmerising display of de Kooning’s late paintings from the 1980s. These ethereal works, characterised by their abstract poetry and subtle figurative references, epitomise de Kooning’s lasting artistic legacy.
Gary Garrels and Mario Codognato, the exhibition’s curators, articulate de Kooning’s artistic ethos, stating, “Willem de Kooning collected from the cacophony of visual excitement, light, and movement in daily life to create his lexicon.”
Presented in collaboration with The Willem de Kooning Foundation, this groundbreaking exhibition offers a rare opportunity to delve into the depths of de Kooning’s artistic psyche.
The exhibition runs from April 17 to September 15, 2024, at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. It promises an unforgettable journey through the transformative power of artistic expression.
Top Photo: Emma, Lucy and Isabel de Kooning Villeneuve at the opening of Willem de Kooning and Italy, Gallerie dell’Accademia, standing in front of Villa Borghese (1960) by Willem de Kooning, oil on canvas, 203.2 x 177.8 cm, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao © 2024 The Willem de Kooning Foundation, SIAE. Photograph by David Levene 2024.
Willem de Kooning and Italy – Exhibition dates: 17 April – 15 September 2024 -Gallerie dell’Accademia, Calle della Carità, 1050, 30123 Venice