Alessandro Pessoli "Creature, Creatori - San Francesco e l’arte contemporanea" at MAXXI, Rome, Italy

From the 22nd of May to the 20th of September 2026
The spiritual perspective of Saint Francis of Assisi becomes an interpretive filter through which to explore and understand Italian art from the second half of the twentieth century to the contemporary era.

The exhibition itinerary goes beyond the mere traditional and iconographic representation of the Saint, aiming instead to narrate his unique way of observing the universe and the profound moral value of his ideas. His approach to the world, beautifully summarized in the Canticle of the Creatures, thus serves as an inspiring principle and starting point to examine the national art scene from the post-WWII period to the present day in a new light.

The masterpieces from the MAXXI permanent collection engage in a profound dialogue with works that share themes and stylistic choices. Several installations and artworks, specifically conceived and created for this event, aim to visually translate the Franciscan sensibility and attitude, harmoniously weaving together multiple symbolic references, human representations, and elements of the natural world.

The entire cultural initiative is jointly supported and organized by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture and the MAXXI Foundation – National Museum of 21st Century Arts. The exhibition is fully integrated into the broader official program dedicated to the Celebrations of the Eighth Centenary of the passing of Saint Francis of Assisi.