Franco Battiato: final days to see the “Un’altra vita” exhibition at

Franco Battiato: final days to visit the exhibition at MAXXI

Location: Spazio Extra, MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Arts, Rome. Dates: from 31 January 2026 to 26 April 2026.

"Franco Battiato. Un’altra vita" presents a layered portrait of the artist — songwriter, experimental musician, poet and visual creator. The exhibition brings together unpublished materials, photographs, album covers, historic posters and rare memorabilia spanning more than fifty years of work.

What the exhibition offers

Curated by Giorgio Calcara with Grazia Cristina Battiato and produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, MAXXI and the Franco Battiato Foundation ETS, the show is structured as a journey highlighting musical production alongside Battiato’s painting and cinematic interests.

• Central listening space: an octagonal room equipped with a Dolby Atmos system and video projections for an immersive experience.
• Exhibited materials: albums, posters, photographs, rare documents and personal artifacts.
• Curators and organisers: curated by Giorgio Calcara and Grazia Cristina Battiato; organised by C.O.R. Creare Organizzare Realizzare (Alessandro Nicosia).

The seven thematic areas

• Early years: from Sicily to Milan and the debut as a pop songwriter.
• Experimentation: the move towards avant-garde and electronic music in the 1970s.
• Success: the transition to mainstream and the albums that made him widely known.
• Mysticism: the growing interest in spirituality, esotericism and Eastern philosophies.
• The man: a return to origins and a quieter life in Sicily.
• The master: consolidation of his cultural role and intellectual legacy.
• From sound to image: film work, soundtracks and cinematic projects connected to his thought.

This exhibition is a key opportunity to explore the multifaceted career of Franco Battiato and the dialogue between his musical, visual and cinematic practices. Note that the show closes on 26 April 2026: check MAXXI opening hours before planning your visit.