April 24, 2026 – September 13, 2026
Palazzo Ducale in Genoa presents a major retrospective dedicated to the revolutionary genius of Mimmo Rotella. Curated by Alberto Fiz in close collaboration with the Mimmo Rotella Foundation, the exhibition highlights over sixty years of relentless artistic exploration, revealing the complexity of a master who redefined the visual language of the 20th century.
The exhibition features over one hundred works, tracing his journey from his lesser-known beginnings—marked by abstract experimentation and Surrealist influences—to his later masterpieces. The beating heart of the show is the décollage, the technique through which Rotella elevated the commercial advertisement to an art form. Within this context, the “tear” is not merely a destructive gesture, but an absolute creative act: by ripping layers of posters from urban walls, the artist liberates new visions, transforming mass-market imagery into aesthetic memory and visual poetry.
From his iconic movie stars torn from the streets of Rome to his sophisticated New Icons, created through collage and overpainting, the exhibition testifies to Rotella’s unique ability to “re-signify” reality. The visitor’s experience is further enriched by a precious collection of archival materials and audiovisual documents, providing deep insight into the historical and human context of a master who turned destruction into his highest form of creation.
This is an unmissable event to discover how a simple shred of torn paper can open infinite windows into the contemporary imagination.