From Picasso to Kandinsky: Major Exhibitions at the Basilica Palladiana

"Inspiration Europe": a three-year exhibition cycle at the Basilica Palladiana

Vicenza will host a triennial exhibition project titled Inspiration Europe – Dialogues in Art between the 19th and 20th centuries, with the Basilica Palladiana as its main venue. The series opens on 13 November 2026 with the Italy–Germany exhibition, to be followed by Italy–France (2027) and Italy–Spain (2028).

What to expect

Each of the three exhibitions will display around one hundred works—paintings, sculptures, photographs and works on paper—tracing artistic exchanges and their political and social contexts across five centuries.

• First exhibition dates: 13 November 2026 – 2 May 2027.
• Venue: Basilica Palladiana, Vicenza.
• Curators: Gabriella Belli and Valerio Terraroli.
• Organisers and partners: Marsilio Arte, International Centre for the Study of Architecture Andrea Palladio, Fondazione Teatro Comunale Città di Vicenza, supported by Intesa Sanpaolo.

Themes and structure of the Italy–Germany exhibition

The Italy–Germany show examines artistic relations between the two countries from the 19th to the 20th century, organized into thematic chapters from neoclassical roots to avant-gardes and postwar art. Key sections include:

• Roots between the 18th and 19th centuries: the myth of Italy and northern European sculptural traditions.
• Avanguard confrontations: dialogues between Italian Futurism and German Expressionism.
• Between the wars: art and society across differing national realities.
• Post-1945: cultural reconstruction and renewed artistic inquiry, including reflections on memory and identity.

Artists and highlights

The programme features works and references ranging from Antonio Canova and Goethe to Picasso, Kandinsky and Joseph Beuys, as well as Italian Transavanguardia figures and German movements of the late 20th century. Collaborations with museums and cultural institutions ensure a curated selection of significant works.

Local impact

The project aims to act as a cultural laboratory involving local institutions, schools and businesses to create synergies between culture, tourism and commerce and position Vicenza as an international exhibition hub.

Practical note: for ticketing, guided tours and related events, consult the official cultural programming channels of Vicenza and the exhibition organisers.